Cavalcade de Meyenheim

The Cavalcade de Meyenheim: a new breath for Alsatian carnival

In 2024, a handful of carnival enthusiasts founded the association Les Giffala Klikka in Meyenheim, a small village in the Haut-Rhin plain located between Colmar and Mulhouse. Their ambition: to create a carnival parade in a village that had never had one, and to make it the first parade of the season in Alsace. The challenge was met in January 2026, with a first edition that brought together nearly 400 carnival-goers in the streets of Meyenheim.

2:13 PM: a symbolic start

The start time of the parade is no accident. The procession sets off at precisely 2:13 PM, a clear nod to the Air Base 132 Colmar-Meyenheim, which marked the village's history for over half a century. Built in 1951 for NATO, BA 132 hosted fighter squadrons until 2010. By choosing this symbolic time (1 for the number 1, 4 PM for the 4, 13 for the 13... i.e., 1-4-13 evoking 132), the Giffala Klikka anchor their parade in local memory and pay homage to Meyenheim's aeronautical identity.

A colorful procession

For this first edition, no fewer than 15 carnival groups responded to the call. Among them were the Haxa Gugga from Rouffach, the D'Sultzmatter Riwerla Putzer from Soultzmatt — with their impressive float nearly 30 meters long — and numerous groups from all over the region. The procession paraded through the village streets to the sound of Guggenmusik, those typical Alemannic carnival brass bands, while decorated floats and costumed groups showered spectators with confetti and candy.

Les Giffala Klikka: the carnival spirit embodied

The association's name, Giffala Klikka, draws from the Alsatian dialect and reflects the mischievous and unifying spirit of its members. From their creation, the Giffala Klikka have been involved in local community life, organizing a King's Bingo at the beginning of the year to fund their project and unite the community. Their energy and enthusiasm convinced municipal authorities and neighboring carnival associations to support this unprecedented initiative.

Meyenheim, a village between plain and history

Meyenheim is a village at a crossroads, nestled in the Alsatian plain between the vineyards of Rouffach and the forests of the Hardt. Its history is inseparable from Air Base 132, which shaped its landscape and identity for decades. Now converted into the Colonel Dio barracks, home to the Tchad Marching Regiment, the former air base remains in memory. The Giffala Klikka parade is part of this dynamic of renewal, infusing festive and popular energy into a village seeking new traditions.