After a break last year, Graz’s city center once again became the “largest village square in Austria” in 2025. On Saturday, September 13, around 80,000 visitors celebrated at “Aufsteirern,” said Markus Lientscher from the organizing team to APA on Sunday. Such crowds on the opening day had never been seen before. In total, a new record of around 200,000 guests was reached. Despite the large crowds, the event remained “without significant incidents.”
The originally mixed weather forecast did not keep people in dirndls, lederhosen, and other attire at home. “When Styria celebrates, it doesn’t rain,” said Styrian Governor Mario Kunasek (FPÖ) during the beer tapping on Sunday at Graz’s main square. He said he was an optimist and therefore wore short lederhosen. In fact, the sun did appear in the afternoon. One person on stage, however, still got wet: “She got splashed,” came from the crowd after Kunasek tapped the beer barrel. The comment referred to Graz Vice Mayor Judith Schwentner (Greens), who held the tap for the governor. By the way, Kunasek needed only three strikes to open the keg.
Sold-Out Opening Concert And Huge Crowds
In his opening speech on Sunday, Lientscher emphasized that the festival had already been underway for two days. On Friday evening, a premiere of “Aufsteirern” filled the house: Herbert Pixner and the Graz Philharmonic performed a sold-out opening concert at the Graz Opera. The musical start can be rewatched on ORF III on October 12. “We were surprised ourselves by how busy it was on Saturday,” the organizer told APA. The folk festival continued at full swing until closing time at 10:00 p.m. and then ended on a cozy note, Lientscher said.
On Sunday morning, Herrengasse was already well-visited before the beer tapping—while exhibitors were still drying off from the night rain and sellers at food stalls strengthened themselves. For example, Ruth Hilbert from Gratwein came with her children for the first time: “Because there are more of us this year, we came in the morning, when it’s still a bit quieter,” she told APA.
In the run-up to the festival, “Aufsteirern” was already on everyone’s lips. A public debate arose after the planned stand of drag queen Jodie Fox from the LGBTIQ association RosaLila PantherInnen was canceled. After a clarifying conversation, “Jodie’s Fuxteiflswüde Jausn Hüttn” was allowed to open on Sunday. In the morning, drag queen Chemical Princess, wearing a black dirndl with pink and purple flowers, spoke with passersby. Her aim, she said, was to have fun and show “that we don’t mean any harm.”
Lebkuchen hearts with inscriptions such as “Gspusi” (sweetheart) or “Styrian Princess” were sold. “Aufsteirern” also offered everything the Styrian heart desires—from pumpkin seed sausages and meatloaf sandwiches to chocolate-covered fruit. And for a dry throat after singing, there was beer, wine, spritzers, and all kinds of schnapps and liqueurs.
Governor’s Reception And Distinguished Guests
At midday, the governor invited honorary guests to a reception at the Old University. In addition to representatives of Styrian folk culture associations, volunteers from emergency organizations also attended. For Kurt Rath, head of the water rescue service, “Aufsteirern” is an opportunity to get to know other regions of the state. He himself comes from western Styria and said: “Since a green heart beats in our chest, we belong at this folk festival.”
Kunasek named some “special guests”: his deputy Manuela Khom (ÖVP), state parliament president Gerald Deutschmann (FPÖ), and former governor Hermann Schützenhöfer (ÖVP). “He said he’d still give me a tie,” Kunasek noted—he wasn’t wearing one. He also highlighted Leopold Schöggl (FPÖ) as the “inventor of Aufsteirern.”
“Aufsteirern” was originally launched in 2002 as a one-day event. “Since then, it has developed into a highlight,” said Kunasek. Since its first edition, all Styrian folk culture associations have taken part. In 2025, around 900 musicians, 350 dancers, and 200 exhibitors from Styria, Burgenland, Carinthia, Romania, and Slovenia offered a colorful program.
