Schiltigheim Carnival

The Cavalcade du Bouc Bleu: A Living Rhine Tradition

The Schiltigheim Carnival, officially named Cavalcade du Bouc Bleu, is part of the great tradition of Rhine carnivals that liven up Alsace, Baden, and German-speaking Switzerland every late winter. Organized by the Club Carnavalesque du Bouc Bleu de Schiltigheim, this festive event has become a must-see on the Alsatian carnival calendar, attracting many visitors each year.

The Grand Sunday Parade

The highlight of the event is the Sunday afternoon parade, which starts precisely at 2:11 PM – a symbolic time inherited from the Rhine carnival tradition. The procession follows a route through three communes:

• Departure from Hoenheim (rue des Vosges)
• Passage through Bischheim (rue de la Fontaine, rue de la République)
• Arrival in Schiltigheim (route de Bischwiller to the Heineken parking lot)

The parade features decorated floats with satirical and colorful themes, GuggaMusik groups – those wild brass bands with their characteristic brassy sounds – and hundreds of costumed revelers from all over Alsace, Moselle, Switzerland, and Germany.

The Carnival Evening

On the Saturday evening before the parade, the Club du Bouc Bleu organizes a grand carnival evening at the Salle de la Briqueterie. Live band, DJ, hits from the 80s-2000s, and Ballermann music get the costumed partygoers dancing until the early hours. Food and drinks are available on-site.

The Carnival Season

The official carnival season begins on November 11th with the opening ceremony and the election of the princely couple who will represent the carnival throughout the season. From November to March, the Club du Bouc Bleu participates in numerous parades in the region, before hosting the grand parade in Schiltigheim.

Rules and Conviviality

Confetti is allowed and encouraged! However, serpent cannons are prohibited for the safety of participants. The carnival is a family-friendly event, open to all, where young and old share the joy of the celebration.