Cavalcade de Riedisheim

The Cavalcade of Riedisheim: a carnival tradition since 1984

At the gates of Mulhouse, the town of Riedisheim vibrates every winter to the rhythm of its carnival. Since 1984, this popular festival has brought together residents and visitors to chase away winter and celebrate the upcoming arrival of spring. In over forty years of existence, the Riedisheim Carnival has established itself as one of the major festive events in the Mulhouse urban area.

A weekend of festivities for the whole family

The carnival unfolds over two days full of entertainment:

• On Saturday afternoon, the children's carnival opens the festivities. A joyful parade starts from the Munderkingen esplanade at 2:32 PM, with costumed children, a costume contest, and performances by Guggen Musik. A mini-disco concludes the afternoon for the youngest.
• On Saturday evening, it's time for the carnival ball (“Le Before du Carnaval”), a grand evening hosted by an orchestra and musicians from the Lustige Klique de Riedisheim, with meals available by reservation.
• On Sunday, it's the grand finale with the main parade. The procession, composed of about thirty groups — decorated floats, Waggis, Guggen Musik, majorettes, and costumed groups — sets off at 2:32 PM from Rue d'Alsace-Gambetta. The Guggen Musik performances continue in the late afternoon, before the closing ceremony at 6:02 PM with the symbolic return of the city keys to the mayor.

The spirit of the Rhenish carnival

The Riedisheim Carnival is deeply rooted in the Rhenish carnival tradition. The Waggis, these boisterous characters with prominent red noses and colorful costumes, are the stars of the parade. They roam the streets throwing confetti and candy to the spectators, in a typically Alsatian spirit of playful defiance. The Guggen Musik, these wild brass bands playing deliberately out of tune for the audience's great pleasure, provide a festive and quirky musical touch.

A community-driven event

Organized jointly by the City of Riedisheim and the association La Ronde des Fêtes, with the support of local associations such as the Lustige Klique, Don du Sang, Les Quilles les 12, and the Celtic Ried's Pipers, the carnival is a wonderful example of community mobilization. Dozens of volunteers get involved each year to offer the town and its visitors an unforgettable festive moment.

The "carnivalesque" schedules

An amusing peculiarity of the Riedisheim Carnival: all times end with odd minutes (2:32 PM, 3:47 PM, 6:02 PM...), a carnival tradition that believes odd numbers bring good luck. A playful wink that sets the tone for the party!