Villach (AT) - Kirchtag

**Villach Kirchtag: Austria's largest traditional festival**

The Villach Kirchtag is the largest and one of the most famous traditional festivals in Austria. Every year in the first week of August, the city centre of Villach in Carinthia is transformed into a colourful hub of Austrian and Alpine folk culture. The multi-day festival attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from Austria and abroad and culminates in a magnificent traditional costume and parade.

**A festival of tradition and joie de vivre**

The Kirchtag, which has its roots in 1936, is a lively representation of Carinthian and international folklore. For over a week, starting on the Sunday before the first Saturday in August, the festival offers a packed programme with over 100 individual events. Villach's old town is transformed into a huge festival site with numerous stages where countless music groups perform traditional and modern folk music. Countless stalls and beer gardens offering regional delicacies cater for the physical well-being of visitors. A special culinary highlight is the traditional ‘Villacher Kirchtagssuppe’, a sour cream soup with various types of meat.

An essential part of the festival is the large amusement park, which provides thrills and entertainment for young and old alike with its rides such as the Ferris wheel, carousels and modern attractions.

**The highlight: the traditional costume parade**

The undisputed highlight of the Villach Kirchtag is the large traditional costume and festival parade, which traditionally takes place on the first Saturday in August. Thousands of participants, including traditional costume groups from all over Austria and many other countries, marching bands and festively decorated floats, parade through the streets of Villach. This colourful parade is an impressive testimony to living tradition and cultural diversity.

**Organisation and significance**

The Villach Kirchtag is organised by Villacher Kirchtag GmbH, a company majority-owned by the city of Villach. The ‘Villacher Bauerngman’, a traditional association that contributes significantly to the preservation of customs, also plays an important role.

The Villach Kirchtag is not only a folk festival, but also an important economic factor for the region. It stands for the successful combination of traditional customs and modern event management and has developed over the decades into a symbol of Carinthian hospitality and joie de vivre.

Travel information:

By public transport:

- By train - Villach main station (distance 450 m)

By car:

- Venue: city centre

Parking:

- CONTIPARK underground car park Interspar Villach (Ringmauergasse 9)

- CONTIPARK car park Zentrum (Hausergasse 13)

- Car park Draulände/Gerbergasse (Draulände 23)