Admission is free

Party twice! All of Klagenfurt is in a party mood

On Friday, the whole of Klagenfurt's city center will be celebrating. While the legendary after-work party takes place at Benediktinermarkt between 4 and 10 pm, the first public viewing of the European Football Championship will take place just 50 meters away at Neuer Platz.

The public viewing starts at 5 p.m. on Neuer Platz and the month-long TV festival will open with a big pyrotechnic show. "It should be a bonfire for the European Championship. Everything is organized and will run smoothly," says organizer Manfred Dobesch, who is expecting thousands of visitors on the opening day.

 "The opening game starts at 9 p.m., the European Championship organizers Germany will be performing, which is always good. All the landlords and the ten catering stallholders are really looking forward to it starting." A total of 150,000 visitors are expected to attend the public viewing at Neuer Platz between now and July 14.

And at Bendiktinermarkt, the party animals are on the move. As usual, it will be a culinary festival, with the "Krone" winners invited to the Frierss market from 6 pm. "A Dolce Vita plate with Carinthian specialties will be served, two drinks are free. There will be laid-back DJ sounds, then local hero Georg Mattersdorfer will play with his band "Grand Tourismo". Pop, rock, jazz, blues and reggae are on offer. "There are no screens for the European Championships at the market. Soccer is on at the town hall," says Marketing Manager Inga Horny.