Mainz

Thousands upon thousands of people from throughout Rheinland Pfalz descend on Mainz during Karneval in February. If you are in Germany in carneval season you absolutely MUST go to the main Karneval at least as the atmosphere is amazing. In Mainz there was a huge parade of local dancers, musicians and bands dressed up in every costume you can think of. They throw you sweets and the general public, mostly wearing huge multi-coloured hats, wave and shout "Helau!" as they pass. When the procession finished everyone made their way to watch the bands on the huge stages and the crowd just went wild, singing and waving their arms in the air to carneval songs like "Die Haende zum Himmel". In a place with so many people and so many beer stalls you'd think there might be trouble but everyone seemed to be so good natured and just out for a good time, just the way it should be. This is why I love Germany!