Vienna Carnival Season is Starting

At 11:11 am on 11/11 a new carnival season is beginning. In Vienna, it is not just a beginning, it will be a huge outdoor dancing event. More than 3,000 dancers are expected to perform the largest quadrille of the world. Organised and hosted by the association of Viennese dance schools, all Vienna will be dancing into carnival season. Everyone is invited to join in at the Graben, one of the avenues leading to Stephansplatz. With the assistance of professional dancers everyone will be able to enjoy this early morning waltzing time. It is about fun and joy, not perfection, they say...

So, if you are lucky enough to be in the area, join in and enjoy! And if not, you will have the opportunity to dance and enjoy at more than 450 balls this season.

Vienna Opera Ball 2012 - 7.45pm

Red Carpet is laid out - few celeb spotters find their way

still some time to wait!

5.200 guests are expected!

Vienna Opera Ball ... and 150 Other Balls

Now, that we have successfully approached the carnival season and the christmas market season, Vienna prepares also for the ball season. As you see, Viennese people love to enjoy these chilly and quite depressing months of the year by dancing and drinking!

Combine a stylish gown with glamour, elegance, waltz and lots of champagne and indulge in society like the emperors, queens and kings did. Head out for a traditional ball in Vienna.

Meanwhile the season stretches from November to August. Business over tradition! Traditionally the ball season ends on "Faschingsdienstag" the day before "Aschermittwoch. In 2011 this will be the 8th and 9th March then.
"Faschingsdienstag" is the Mardi Gras in France or the Pancake-day in Britain. And the following day is the Ash Wednesday. But this is another story, we'll report on that later.

It is said, that there are approx 150 balls taking place in Vienna. But only a handful are the very traditional ones. It has become custom that groups of people started to organize a ball to party within their community. Let us have a look what kind of "newer" balls there are on offer:

Ball of the chimney sweepers
Ball of the police
Ball of Slovakia
Ball of the viennese butchers
Ball of the weightlifters
Russian Ball
Ball of Greece
Ball of viennese confectioners

Just to give you an idea.
And there are many high schools, dancing schools and universities organising balls for their students, friends and families.

The more traditional "waltz-parties" are the ones in beautiful venues, having a long history

31st Dec -  Kaiserball
Wr Hofburg   traditional, nice way to slip into the new year, grand location

14th Jan  -  Blumenball
Wr Rathaus   traditional, flowers wherever you look, nice location

20th Jan  -  Philharmonikerball
Musikverein  tradtional, beautiful location, if you can't make it to the new year's concert

22th Jan  -  Pharmacyball
Wr Hofburg  if you love to be surrounded by pills and drugs

29th Jan  -  Ärzteball
Wr Hofburg  if you are keen to dance with your GP

3rd  Feb  -  Immobilienball  
Wr Hofburg  if you are more into property

25th Feb  -  Kaffeesiederball
Wr Hofburg  nowhere else in the world you can find that many coffeehouse owners

7th Mar   -   Rudolfina Redoute

The countdown is on ...

While the Londoners soon have their "Jingle bell ball", which has nothing to do with a real ball, here in Vienna we have a whole ballseason, which will start off shortly ....
We will issue all dates and recommend the best balls for you: traditional, fancy, modern, posh ... you'll name it!

Staying at bluedanube apartments enables you to enjoy the ballseason in a very convenient way: the top venues are just a very very short taxi drive away: Save money, save time and start the night relaxed!
You even can hire a carriage, the Viennese "Fiaker", as the distances are that near! You only have to wrap up to avoid freezing when you are dressed up in your fancy cloth.

We'll keep you posted .....