Carnival, Carnevale, Fasching or Fasnet — while the name varies according to where in the world one might be, the carefree, anything-goes last days of revelry before the solemn season of Lent always bring crowds to the streets and smiles to the faces of those partaking in the festivities. Here are some places not far from U.S. military bases in Europe where one can join in on the fun:

Belgium

Binche: The stars of the Carnival de Binche are the “Gilles,” identically dressed, exclusively male characters wearing wax masks with green glasses, mustaches and goatees along with black felt tunics covered in heraldic symbols and jingling bells. On Shrove Tuesday (March 4), they’ll clomp about town in their matching clogs, dancing and shaking wooden sticks to scare off evil spirits. Once assembled into a pack of up to a thousand men, they will don ostrich-feathered headgear, take up wicker baskets full of oranges and throw them into the gathered crowds. Festivities begin early in the morning and run throughout the day; the big procession takes place at 3 p.m. Online: tinyurl.com/t72vjm5d

Malmedy: Belgium’s oldest carnival, the Cwarmê, plays out over the four days preceding Ash Wednesday. A program highlight, the dance of the Haguètes and the Arlequins, followed by a large procession of 1,500 marchers wearing their traditional masks and costumes, gets underway from 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 2. Online: tinyurl.com/tym99mym

Germany

Aachen: The Rose Monday parade here is made up of close to a hundred different groups, both marching and riding upon fantastically decorated floats. This year’s edition gets underway from Adalbertsteinweg at 11 a.m. Monday, March 3. Online: tinyurl.com/5are6ayc

Cologne: From downtown to the outlying suburbs, a party vibe pervades throughout the weekend, as the revelers referred to as “Jecken” fill the streets and pack the bars. The highlight event comes on Rose Monday, March 3, when a 4-mile-long parade with floats and costumed marchers sets forth at 12:30 p.m. from the city center. Spectators young and old enjoy catching the tons of sweets and flowers tossed their way. Online: tinyurl.com/mumuxv9b

Dusseldorf: The city’s famed Rosenmontag parade starts off from the city center at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, March 3. The parade features a number of politically themed floats and hundreds of costumed marchers and musicians. Following the parade, the Königsallee and Old Town will brim with costumed revelers eager to carry on. Online: tinyurl.com/y6ftkdtv

Mainz: At 11:11 a.m. on Monday, March 3, a parade made up of some 160 floats mocking celebrities and politicians, along with hundreds of musicians, flag bearers and other marchers sets off from the Neustadt. The parade will pass by the cathedral and Schillerplatz before ending at the Muensterplatz some five hours later. Entry is free; the purchase of a little statue of a colorful plastic figure at a cost of 7 euros helps cover some of the parade’s organizational costs. Online: tinyurl.com/mr38xyut

Nuremberg: Although much smaller in scale than events in Cologne or Mainz, Nuremberg still manages to put on a decent show, with some 50 marching groups in its parade slated for 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 2. Online: fnf-nbg.de

Munich: A terrorist attack on a crowd on Feb. 14 has led to the cancellation of most carnival-related events in 2025, including street parties and the Dance of the Market Women. Online: tinyurl.com/4f6c6mpk

Rottweil: Carnivals in the Swabian-Alemannic tradition of southwest Germany are characterized by their strong folkloric elements and the wearing of elaborately carved wooden masks. A good example of such is this medieval city’s Narrensprung, or Fool’s Jump. Festivities revolving around the antics of a cast of characters including the mischievous feather coated “Federahannes” take place from 8 a.m. March 3 and from 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on March 4. Online: tourismus-rottweil.de/das-original/fasnet

Wiesbaden: A children’s parade gets underway from Luisenplatz at 3:33 p.m. Saturday, March 1 and ends some two hours later with a stage program at the Schlossplatz; the city’s big event, the main parade, starts at 12:11 p.m. on Sunday, March 2. The parade, which lasts about two hours, starts and ends at Friedrich-Ebert-Allee. Online: tinyurl.com/y6mmvm43

Würzburg: Bavaria’s largest carnival parade sets off from Semmelstr. at 11:55 a.m. on Sunday, March 2. Following the parade, live music and general merriment will carry on in front of the old Town Hall at Am Grafeneckhart. Online: der-elferrat.de/veranstaltungen

Italy

Venice: The delight of the carnival here lies not in parades but in the sight of individuals all done up in their elaborate masks and costumes, striking poses for the camera. From March 1-4, street shows featuring music, acrobatics, dance, clowns and other entertainers play out on S. Margherita and other squares from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. daily, while over on St. Mark’s Square, carnival costume shows and contests take place at several times throughout the day. Entry to most daytime events is free. To keep properly fueled, indulge in the deep-fried, doughnut-like snacks only available at this time of year, including frittelle, castagnole and galani. Online: tinyurl.com/6xxj5dwu