On February 12, 2026, the Völklingen town hall transformed into a dazzling dream factory. At exactly 3:11 PM, it was once again: stage free for the traditional town hall storming by the Völklingen carnival societies. Under the motto "Hollywood," the jesters and the city leaders engaged in a merry battle of words reminiscent of an Oscar-worthy screenplay.
Mayor Stephan Tautz opened the scene with grand words: flashes from cameras, a red carpet, and sparkling stars were to move into the town hall. Once a year, he announced with a wink, the "dream factory of Hollywood" is also allowed to make a stop in Völklingen. But for the fools, his clear message was, the town hall would remain closed – after all, he only wanted to admit "stars and starlets."
But the carnivalists responded promptly. The Heidstock Action Group (AGH), the carnival society "Die Beeles" from Ludweiler, and the carnival society Rosselanos 1955 e.V. made it clear: it was not about glamour and sparkle, but the city's empty coffers.
With a sharp tongue, the municipal budget was described as a film without a happy ending – year after year the same reel, just without a surprising twist. The jesters announced that they now wanted to look "behind the scenes" themselves and take over the direction.
The mayor admitted that the financial situation was tense. The "film budget," in his words, was not a comedy. Scenes had to be cut, expenses reduced, so that the city would not "fall apart."
But the jesters did not give up. Too much drama, too little joy – that was their verdict. If the captain talks for too long, he will eventually be replaced by the audience. Politics is playing a grand theater, but the citizens have long been sitting with popcorn in the cinema hall, watching the same film year after year.
Even the „prop“ – meaning the power over the town hall – the mayor initially did not want to relinquish. But the carnival majority was closing in.
Against the full force of the carnival societies – and not least against the loud support including the cannon of the Kreisler – neither Mayor Stephan Tautz nor the deputy mayor had a chance. After a brief but intense exchange of words, the town hall had to concede defeat.
Finally, the carnival highlight followed: The key to the city changed hands. Hollywood ended, the carnival began – and from then on, the town hall belonged to the fools.
With a conciliatory finale, the mayor declared that no film can exist without an audience. Amid applause, the doors opened, and the fools symbolically took over the direction "throughout the entire country."
The storming of the town hall in 2026 once again showed: Politics in Völklingen is taken with humor – at least during Carnival. When glamour, critique, and festive joy come together, laughter always wins in the end. 🎉
