For all carnival lovers, the days are a good opportunity to relax away from the fast lane. You can find alternatives and tips here.

The Rhenish cult cabaret artist Konrad Beikircher offers an alternative to carnival for all non-jokers and shows the highlights of his previous shows in Beikircher's "Best Of". At the end of February, the Bonn-based artist will celebrate the anniversary of the great composer in his show "Beethoven, Dat Dat Dat Darf!“

Where: Katharinenhof, Venner Straße 51, 53177 Bonn

When: Friday and Saturday 19.30 hrs, Sunday 18 hrs

Tickets: from 19 Euro under ga.de/tickets

The story about the little lion Simba and his friends Timon and Pumba has been thrilling audiences as a musical and feature film for generations. The music by Elton John, Hans Zimmer and Paul Simon also takes viewers on a journey through the savannah of Africa. The greatest hits from The Lion King will be presented by the "Broadway Philharmonic Orchestra" in a concert gala at the Cologne Musical Dome.

Where: Musical Dome, Goldgasse 1, 50668 Cologne

When: Friday, 8 p.m.

Tickets: under ga.de/tickets

Madame Chandebise has a flea in her ear: Her husband is said to have cheated on her, and the hotel "Zur zärtlichen Miezekatze" has something to do with it. The couple's fidelity test becomes a curious story in the comedy by Georges Feydeaus. The cast includes Kalle Pohl, Petra Kalkutschke, Stefan Gebelhoff and Sören Ergang. Until 22 March, "Flea in the Ear" can be seen at the Contra-Kreis-Theater.

Where: Contra-Kreis-Theater, Am Hof 3-5, 53113 Bonn

When: Friday and Saturday 19.30 hrs, Sunday 18 hrs

Tickets: from 17,60 Euro under ga.de/tickets

In the fifth season, no one needs to be alone. The Tanzhaus in Bonn invites to a carnival party for singles. There will be a workshop on so-called line dance, a dance form in which the dancers dance in rows next to each other to a choreography. Afterwards there will be a party. The organizers also offer a yet unknown surprise act in the course of the evening.

Where: Tanzhaus Bonn, Gartenstraße 102, 53225 Bonn

When: Friday, 7 pm

Tickets on site: Workshop and party: 12,50 Euro, Party: 6,50 Euro

Also on Saturday the carnival does not take a break. For all dance-loving carnival enthusiasts, the "Fun Kölsch Karneval" party (with Mickie Krause and Tim Tourpet, among others) will take place in the Brückenforum. There will be dance groups and Kölsch. The name is program.

Where: Brückenforum, Friedrich-Breuer-Str. 17, 53225 Bonn

When: Saturday, 7 pm

Tickets: from 25,60 Euro under ga.de/tickets

There is also a party in the town hall in Bad Godesberg. Radio Bonn/Rhein-Sieg DJ Nico Jansen provides a jolly mix of dance music and the Cologne band Fiasko is also on the programme.

Where: Bad Godesberg town hall, Koblenzer Straße 80, 53117 Bonn

When: Saturday, 5.11 pm

Tickets: from 14 Euro under ga.de/tickets

There is more to a good film than just talented actors and impressive locations. Music can fundamentally change a film scene, create tension, frighten or make the audience laugh. The film music from well-known cult films will be heard several times over the weekend at the Musical Dome in Cologne. The start will be the concert of J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" with an ensemble of almost 100 participants. Actor, composer and singer Billy Boyd, who could be seen as "Pippin" in the triology, tells the stories of the hobbits and elves.

The music from Pirates of the Caribbean, Gladiator, Inception and Interstellar can be heard later in the evening. The German composer Hans Zimmer is one of the greats of international film music and has already been nominated for an Oscar eleven times. With his works he not only shaped the film world, but also changed the films themselves: For example, the beginning of the classic "Gladiator" (2001) would have been completely different without Zimmer's music. The concert event is presented by an orchestra and choir as well as some soloists.

Where: Musical Dome, Goldgasse 1, 50668 Cologne

When: Saturday, 3 and 8 pm

Tickets: at ga.de/tickets for Lord of the Rings and Hans Zimmer

The family concert of the Bonn Opera goes into the third round. The Beethoven Orchestra plays works by Beethoven and Strauss, accompanied by the dancers from the Ballet Centre Vadim Bondar Bonn.

Where: Theater Bonn, Am Boeselagerhof 1, 53111 Bonn

When: Sunday, 11am

Tickets: under ga.de/tickets

Pastor Joachim Gerhardt will go in search of the spiritual roots of the carnival in the Lutherkirche. "What does a man crown his life with?" This question is the focus of the cheerful service. Answers are provided by the music, to be precise by the Swedish soprano Victoria Granlund-Kaftan, accompanied by Luther Church Cantor Marc Jaquet (grand piano), who sings arias by Beethoven as well as songs from West Side Story and Abba. So to speak a "coronation mass" for jesters, but also for those who prefer to avoid the hustle and bustle of the great days. The celebration in the Lutherkirche is a "service with poetry and a twinkle in the eye", says Pastor Gerhardt. For 14 years in a row now, the service before the Poppelsdorf carnival procession has concluded with the giving of the rosary to the congregation. Because the rose is the heraldic and favourite flower of Martin Luther, the patron saint of the church.

Where: Evangelical Luther Church, Reuterstraße 11, 53115 Bonn

When: Sunday, 10.20am

After the party is before the party: After the carnival procession in Bad Godesberg, the Stadthalle is the final stop on the timetable. For all those who still haven't had enough after the street carnival, Kasalla and Mijö will provide a great atmosphere.

Where: Town hall Bad Godesberg, Koblenzer Straße 80, 53177 Bonn

When: Sunday, from 15.11

Tickets: under ga.de/tickets

(Original text: GA English; Translation: Mareike Graepel)

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