Picture a stunning backdrop of half a million brilliant lights, majestic mountains frosted with snow and an enchanting Bavarian village filled with fun. Come join us this January for Leavenworth’s Winter Karneval as we honor a German tradition dating back to the thirteenth century, commonly referred to as ‘Fasching’.

You can expect to see a blend of familiar activities, like ice carving and fireworks over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, along with new entertainment that will be spread out during the rest of the month, making Leavenworth the perfect winter destination all month long.

View the monthlong schedule here: Winter Karneval Schedule

During Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, artisan carvers will be staged around town, creating works of art that embody the Leavenworth spirit. As the carver works, the sculpture seems to come to life right before your eyes. The sights and sounds of the carving process, combined with the mesmerizing beauty of the finished product, make for an unforgettable experience that is sure to leave you with memories (and photos) that will last a lifetime.

• Saturday & Sunday, January 18 & 19, 2025

There is something so memorable about standing outside on a cold winters evening in downtown Leavenworth surrounded by half a million lights decorating the park and welcoming a vibrant and well orchestrated show of pyrotechnics over town. Every year, on Sunday evening of Martin Luther King Jr. weekend we celebrate with an our annual fireworks show over town, there is not a bad seat in the house for this fun show!

• Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM

We bring entertainment like Fire Dancing to Winter Karneval. Performing several shows a day over a weekend, there is plenty of opportunities to catch one of these great shows in front of the Gazebo. Stay tuned for a schedule of Winter Karneval performances.

• Fire Dancers: Saturday January 11, 2025 at 5:00 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm
• Fire Dancers: Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm, 6:30 pm Sunday

Fasching is like a German Mardi Gras! We celebrate ours on the last full weekend in January with a Pub Crawl complete with carnival masks, giveaways, and fun specialty drinks and eats at our participating restaurants, bars, and pubs.

• Friday, January 24, 2025 – Sunday, January 26, 2025: Times Vary By Establishment. Stay tuned for the map!