Carnival in Bonn A cannon marks the opening of the “Fifth season”
BONN · It’s already that time again! Marktplatz in Bonn city center was filled with Kölsch beer and confetti on Friday. Several hundred carnival enthusiasts came to celebrate the official start of carnival season.
If you happened to be anywhere near Marktplatz in Bonn on Friday morning, you might have wondered what on earth was happening. Was there someone famous on stage? A big event or attraction? No, and well – actually yes. The big deal was that Carnival season, affectionately called “the Fifth season” opens officially on November 11 at 11:11 a.m. For many Rhinelanders, that alone is enough reason to get out and cheer.
Early on Friday, hundreds of costumed carnival fans were crowding the Hauptbahnhof (Bonn central train station) to catch a train to Cologne. “We want to celebrate,” said nun Marvin. The sweet devil in tow said, “Cologne is where it’s happening.” At the last minute, the devil and the nun found a place in the tram and the door could barely close because of all the bodies crammed inside.
Bonn is considered a more comfortable experience. “There’s too big of a crowd in Cologne,” said a couple of carnival enthusiasts. They arrived at the Bonn train station to go celebrate in the city center. Music kicked off the festivities at the Marktplatz and when the cannon fired, it was the highlight they had been waiting for – the official start to carnival season.
(Richard Bongartz, Carol Kloeppel)
