The Carnival belongs to Mainz and Rhine-Hesse like the roll to wine and is considered one of the largest and most traditional folk festivals in Germany! The starting signal for the "fifth season" is given annually on November 11th at 11:11 am on Mainz's Schillerplatz, where jesters gather around the Carnival Fountain to listen to the announcement of the foolish constitution. From this moment on, the official Mainz Carnival colors of red, white, and blue set the tone throughout the city, marking the beginning of the festive activities on the streets and in the halls.

The highlight of the Mainz Carnival is the kilometers-long Rose Monday Parade, which starts from the Neustadt and winds through the Old Town every year. Let yourself be infected by the good spirits of the music groups, flag-wavers, and committees, and admire political floats, uniformed guards, and typical "Schwellköpp" – oversized figures made of papier-mâché!

In 2024, the Carnival is themed: "For Carnival, Mainz on the Rhine invites the whole world to have a drink."