Austria Events and Festivals
January
 New Year's Concert: the Neujahrskonzert is a traditional event held on New Year’s Day at the Musikverein, and features the world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert program is focused on the Viennese waltz and Johann Strauss, the country’s foremost composer of waltz music. The event’s beginnings date to 1873.
Mozart Week: running for 10 days beginning in late January, this festival is held in Salzburg, at theMozarteum. Mozart Week celebrates the birthday, life and music of the city’s most famous son. Well-known musicians from around the country take part in the program, performing the music of Mozart and his contemporaries.
February
 Johann Strauss Ball: held at Vienna’s Kursalon in the Stadtpark, this grand ball features the music of Johann Strauss. This romantic and popular event is a highlight of St Valentine’s Day in Vienna.
March
Easter Music Festival: established in 1996, Vienna’s OsterKlang Wien is a highlight of the city’s annual music scene. Orchestral performances are featured, conducted by internationally-acclaimed conductors. The works of Mendelssohn, Mozart and other classical composers are the focus of the festival.
April
 Arlberg Eagle: in St Anton am Arlberg is a triathlon that is held annually. This triathlon is different from others in that it takes place over a period of five months. As only 500 participants are accepted, early registration is a must.
May
Vienna City Festival: runs for three days that are packed with events from comedy to live music and theatre. On the opening day, festival-goers are treated to samples of gourmet food prepared by top international chefs at stalls set up in the city centre. Over the weekend numerous comedy acts, concerts and dance performances are held throughout the centre and the streets are filled with performers, clowns and food stalls.
June
 Roman Week: the city of Klagenfurt relives ancient times for a week each June. The events are organised by the Landesmuseum, with all city museums participating to stage re-enactments of important events from ancient Greek and Roman history. Numerous performances, tours and workshops are all part of the activities on offer. There’s also a very popular Roman cooking workshop that’s a highlight of the festival.
July
 Pflasterspektakel: more than 500 street artists from countries throughout Europe take to the streets of Linz for this spectacle of acrobatics, juggling, magic and mime. There are more than three dozen performance areas set up for the three days of events, in three different parts of the city centre. Performances are staged three times each day, offering plenty of opportunity to see a wide range of entertainment. From its humble beginnings in 1986, the Pflasterspektakel has become a mainstay in Europe’s street art scene, and attracts more than 170,000 visitors annually.
August
Old Town Magic: Klagenfurt hosts an annual event known as Altstadtzauber, which translates to ‘Old Town Magic’ in English. This is a very colourful street festival held in the historic city centre, and attracts well over 100,000 visitors. In addition to street performers, a music program is featured, with performances of blues, jazz, rock and soul on eight separate stages. Magic and great food are also on offer.
September
Rupertikirday: the city of Salzburg honours St Rupert, its patron saint, every September. The area around the cathedral plays host to traditional craft vendors, art displays, brass music performances, magicians and a street theatre troupe. There’s even a carousel for children to enjoy. Bishop Rupert was buried in 774 AD in Salzburg, and later became the city’s patron saint, as a tribute to his service to the city.
October
 Schlossberg Festival: in the centre of Graz, the Schlossberg is the venue for music and theatre performances. Many visitors find the discussions and workshops held on theatrical productions to be an interesting part of this festival.
November
International Ski Countdown: Obertauern is one of the country’s most popular ski resorts, and during the Countdown it’s jammed with winter sports enthusiasts who launch the yearly season with skiing and snowboarding by day and partying at night. Highlights include a gigantic snow bar, an open-air festival and a colourful fireworks display. There’s also a disco that’s sponsored by a leading Austrian radio station.
December
Christmas Markets: the Christkindlmarkte are found throughout the country in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The markets are the perfect place to find unique items for Christmas gifts or ornaments to take back home for Christmas decorating in years to come. The main Christmas markets are found at the Rathausplatz, Spittelberg and at Vienna’s famed Schoenbrunn Castle. The markets are a must for anyone visiting Austria during the festive holiday period.
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