Cologne celebrates 200 years of carnival with thousands of revelers

Carnival has arrived in Cologne.

Dubbed the “fifth season” in Germany by the locals, the party kicks off every year on November 11 at 11:11 am local time.

It usually lasts until Ash Wednesday in February or March, when colorful parades spill onto the streets.

Thousands of revelers also took to the roads in Düsseldorf and Mainz.

According to the local police, large crowds had gathered in the main party district of Cologne, with 1,100 officers on duty. Cologne South Station had to close due to crowd control.

This year the carnival celebrates the 200th anniversary of the holiday.

Watch the Euronews report in the player above.