Tapping his first beer on his first visit, LH Anton Mattle only needed the first hit to officially open the Gauder Fest. Even Chancellor Karl Nehammer was a guest. He assisted Mattle in his venerable task.
The Gauder Fest, Austria’s largest spring and traditional costume festival, officially opened on Friday evening in Zell am Ziller in the Tyrolean Zillertal. Around 5,000 visitors followed the tapping of the beer, which was carried out by LH Anton Mattle (ÖVP) in the jam-packed marquee. Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) did not miss the opening, dressed in a traditional costume. Part of the opening was the so-called Gambrinus speech, during which cabaret artist “Luis from South Tyrol” skillfully fooled the political and business representatives present. King Gambrinus was one of many eye-catchers to this climax, at which the state governor Mattle finally took over the conducting. Eventually “King Gambrinus” moved in, took his seat on the stage and finally left the scepter to Mattle at his first Gauder Fest as state head: he skilfully tapped the beer, “supported” by Federal Chancellor Nehammer, who had previously stated in a short statement on the stage that “tradition and values give security”. The highlight of the festivities on Sunday is the traditional costume parade with music groups, historic carriages, festival wagons, horse and oxen teams, etc. According to the organizers, this is the largest costume parade in Austria with around 2200 participants.
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