"Fetzige" events in the Traunsee-Almtal region

Joyous and carefree, clownish and chaotic ‒ the Ebensee Fasching or carnival virtually defies description. Young or old, almost everyone joins in the frolics of the so-called “Ebensee National Holiday”.

It all starts with the official carnival opening, which heralds a string of dance events and masked balls over the following weeks, offering the chance for a knees-up and good entertainment.

On Fasching weekend itself, things really get going. The children’s carnival parade takes place on the Saturday, while on the Sunday it’s the adults’ turn to take centre stage at the big Ebensee Fasching parade.

Monday is the day for probably the most extraordinary procession of all ‒ the Fetzenzug (Rag Parade) with its subsequent lively celebrations in local inns. The Fetzenzug is about 120 years old and was awarded UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status in 2011.

After Ash Wednesday, when the carnival figure is ceremoniously burned on the banks of the River Traun, there is only one wish in mind, voiced in the first few lines of the Rag Parade March:

“Faschingtag, Faschingtag, kimm na boid wieda!” (“Carnival, carnival, come back soon!”).