Mainz as it laughs and sings! So goes the title of the Fastnachtsitzung (carnival banquet), that together with the Rosenmontagsumzug (Rose-Monday-procession) made Mainz famous Germany wide via the TV screen. The Meenzer Fassenacht, receives up to 100,000 visitors annually, and has become an integral part of Mainz’s unique image.
The city’s favourite son is Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press. There is a museum and a festival Johannisfest (the largest in Mainz) in his honour.
The matches of the 1st division club Mainz 05 are also cause for much local celebration.
Mainz is also the seat of Europe’s largest television station "Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)" .