Salzburg Events and Festivals

(Salzburg, Austria)

A musical city with a strong musical heritage, it will come as no real surprise that many of the festivals taking place in Salzburg are music related and often offer a strong Mozart flavour. Various concerts and similar events are often staged during the year at major venues around Salzburg, such as the Grosses Festspielhaus and the Kleines Festspielhaus festival halls, both of which reside on the Hofstallgasse.

There are always things to see and do at the Salzburg Congress Centre (EUROPASAAL) on the Auerspergstrasse, which boasts an extensive calendar of events. Of course, the real highlight of the year is the Salzburg Festival itself, which is staged each year in August and is of great historical significance, being first held as far back as the late 1870s and once actually featured a performance by the now famous Trapp Family Singers, immortalised in the city's much-loved movie, 'The Sound of Music'.

Salzburg Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Weltcup Schifliegen (World Cup Ski Jumping) - throughout January, held in Bad Mitterndorf, around two hours from Salzburg
• International Hot Air Balloon Week - mid-January, crowds gather to enjoy the various events at the Hot Air Balloon Week, which is based close by, in the village of Filzmoos, regarded as the world's capital when it comes to ballooning. Always popular is the colourful Night of the Balloons - head to the Salzburger Sportwelt resort for the very best views

February

• Mozartwoche (Mozart Week) - early February, a week-long celebration of the birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born in Salzburg on January 27th, 1756

March

• Salzburger Osterfestspiele (Salzburg Easter Festival) - late March / early April, with a number of concerts leading up to Easter Sunday, held at the Gros Festspielhaus

April

• Salzburger Performance Tage (Contemporary Dance Festival) - throughout April, with both workshops and performances, at the Theater am Mirabellplatz on the Franz-Josef-Strasse

May

• Salzburger Pfingstfestspiele (Whitsun Festival) - early May, a precursor to the summer Salzburg Festival, with a definite Baroque flavour and plenty of operatic and chamber music to go round

June

• Goldegger Blues und Folk Tage (Blues and Folk Music Festival) - throughout June, held at the nearby 14th-century Goldegg Castle, which is now home to a vast congress centre. The Blues and Folk Music Festival is always a highlight in the castle's yearly calendar and takes place outside, within the castle's courtyard

July

• JIMS (Workshop for Jazz and Improvised Music Salzburg) - throughout July, something for those wishing to learn a little more about jazz, including a number of popular courses and workshops
• Salzburg Summer Music Festival - late July, a series of concerts around the city, including a number of piece's by the city's most famous historical resident, Mozart. This established event dates back almost 100 years and is always a crowd pleaser

August

• Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele) - throughout August, this is the city's premier event and always a busy time, with endless concerts, theatrical performances and exhibitions, at venues such as the Grosses Festspielhaus, the Landestheater and also the Mozarteum. Literally thousands of visitors flock to the city to enjoy the annual festivities, which never disappoint

September

• Salzburger Ruperti-Kirtag - throughout September, a historical family based celebration of the city's patron saint, St. Rupert, held annually for more than 500 years and culminating with a magnificent display of fireworks
• Salzburger Bauernherbst (Farmers' Autumn) - late September to late October, celebrating the arrival of autumn and featuring a range of events relating to farming and agriculture, including harvesting and plenty of freshly prepared Austrian food

October

• Internationales Folk Festival Hallein (Hallein International Folk Festival) - throughout October, crowds flock to the neighbouring village of Hallein, which is located around 10 km / 6 miles from Salzburg. This has become the largest folklore event of its kind in the whole of Austria
• Salzburger Kulturtage (Cultural Days) - mid-October, with various concerts and similar music-based events taking places at the Mozarteum, attracting some truly excellent orchestras along with large, appreciative audiences

November

• Salzburger Adventsingen (Salzburg Advent Singing) - late November to mid-December, a religious event based at the Kollegien Cathedral and offering plenty of seasonal cheer and music, marking the arrival of the Christmas season in Salzburg. Those wishing to attend will need to book tickets well in advance, since these concerts are always sold out

December

• A b'sondere Zeit - mid-December, this is just one of many popular musical events held during the month, held at the Mozarteum in aid of the Salzburg National Aid charity
• Barocke Weihnacht (Night of Baroque Music) - late December, a classical music extravaganza with a strong Yuletide theme, at the Aula der Alten Universität on the Universitätsplatz
• Nordischer Weltcup - late December to early January, a major winter sports competition in Ramsau, to the south-east of Salzburg, with everything from ski jumping to cross country races. Expect big crowds, particularly around the ski jump
• Festungskonzert Silvester - December 31st, New Year's Eve concert at the historic Festung Hohensalzburg Castle