Austria celebrates May Day as a Bank Holiday

A lot of events will take place on today’s May Day: The traditionally biggest event is the manifestation of the SPÖ at town hall square in Vienna. The famous Austrian singer DJ Ötzi will motivate people to party in Vienna Prater.

This year’s May Parade of the Social Democrats will be in accordance with the motto “The SPÖ fights for a just Austria”.

The top party officials such as the head of the SPÖ and Chancellor Werner Faymann, SPÖ chairperson of the party in Vienna and Mayor Michael Häupl, Vice Mayor of the city Renate Brauner, President of the Federation of Trade Unions Erich Foglar and Chamber of Labour President Rudi Kaske will hold speeches from 10.45 a.m.

On 1 May, the ÖVP focuses on the compatibility of family and job. Party leader and vice chancellor Michael Spindelegger, family minister Reinhold Mitterlehner and the head of the Austrian Employee’s Federation Johanna Mikl-Leitner will hold a press conference and then visit a hospital and a bakery.

While the Freedom Party (FPÖ) invites people to Europabierstadl at Urfahraner fair in Linz (Upper Austria), the BZÖ will hold a press conference in the shopping centre Lugner City in Vienna about the expansion of opening hours of shops.

The Austro-Canadian billionaire and party founder Frank Stronach will celebrate with his followers in Prater.

The traditional May Festival will also take place in Prater. The programme includes a country brunch from 11 a.m. and various bands in the afternoon. Highlight of the evening will be DJ Ötzi and fireworks at 10 p.m.