Aachen is gearing up for its highly anticipated Rosenmontagszug on March 3rd, 2025, and for those who can't make it to the event, there’s good news: they can watch it all from the comfort of their homes! The parade will be livestreamed starting at 11:11 AM, available for free on www.aachener-zeitung.de. This year, the Aachener Zeitung has set up a small television studio directly outside the Elisenbrunnen at Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz, providing all the excitement live, loud, and colorful for viewers online and at home.
Host and AZ editor Meggi Stelter will be joined by colleague Robert Esser, and co-hosting will be the dynamic event expert, who will keep the energy high throughout the broadcast. “We’re so grateful to the commander of Oecher Penn, Georg Cosler, for our new location. This allows us to capture even more beautiful perspectives and scenes to bring the atmosphere of the parade to life,” shared Esser.
The Rosenmontagszug expects to see over 8,000 participants marching through the streets, with around 200,000 spectators anticipated along the route. This grand spectacle celebrates the city’s rich carnival traditions. But the entertainment doesn’t stop there; the livestream will also include interviews and live music prior to the parade, featuring various local artists.
Among the guests anticipated are prominent figures such as Aachen's Prince Serkan I, Children's Prince Julian I, AAK president Frank Prömpeler, Mayor Sibylle Keupen, parade director Dirk Geller, Wolfgang Hyrenbach, president of the Aachen Carnival Club, and Jeckomio-TV’s Daniel Schaakxs. “We have additional surprise guests lined up, which will surely entertain everyone,” added Stelter.
During the parade, Stelter will climb onto several carnival floats to conduct live interviews with the distinguished individuals riding along, bringing viewers firsthand accounts of this vibrant celebration. Excitement will be palpable from the Adalbertsteinweg to the Elisenbrunnen, where festivities will kick off right at 11:11 AM.
Musical performances will keep spirits high throughout the day, with acts like Uwe Barthel, Nght Wiever, Tanja Rubin, Hubert Aretz, and Kurt Christ all set to bring energy to the event. Attendees can also look forward to highlights like the ordensverleihung, which honors efforts against animal cruelty, and behind-the-scenes glimpses as the event plays out.
Co-host Strang, known as a carnival specialist, will share fascinating anecdotes about the various carnival clubs and groups participating. Efficiency and excellent coordination are key to the event. “This is going to be a fantastic premiere, and we’re all ready,” said Strang, who along with Esser, will don helmets and protective goggles to prepare for the crowd’s enthusiastic throws of sweets traditionally known as "Kamelle.”
The technical setup for the livestream is significant, and to maintain high quality, partnerships with local companies are indispensable. The Sparkasse Aachen, Stawag, and Wienand Ausstatter are pivotal to ensuring the livestream is free for everyone. Michael Cosler will coordinate this grand event, working with the Mediahuis Aachen team, which includes social media manager Björn Hellmich and video editors Stephan Kreutz and Bernhard Felker.
The broadcast will feature everything from the mounted city riders leading the parade to the prince’s float and the cleanup crew at the end. Last year’s livestream delivered around six hours of programming, showcasing every moment of this playful celebration. “We can’t wait for the parade, all the happy revelers, colorful costumes, and fantastic floats,” expressed Esser. “It’s going to be amazing! No matter if you’re part of the parade, watching from the stands, or enjoying the live stream at home, we’ve got something for everyone at www.aachener-zeitung.de. Just check it out!”