Overview
- Tens of thousands of revelers celebrated Altweiber, marking the start of the street carnival in cities like Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Oberhausen.
- Heightened security measures, including 10,000 police officers in North Rhine-Westphalia, were implemented following online threats and recent regional attacks.
- Cologne and other cities reported lower attendance compared to previous years, partly attributed to safety concerns and a longer-than-usual carnival season.
- In Düsseldorf, festivities included the symbolic storming of the Rathaus, musical performances, and elaborate costumes as part of the city's 200th carnival anniversary.
- Organizers and participants emphasized resilience, rejecting fear and asserting the importance of preserving cultural traditions like Karneval.