WHAT'S NEW?! #52 - VILLACH IN JULY 2025

The welcome2villach team collects the most important news from around Villach in a compact, monthly “News Story”, with links to more information. In July, Villach has many reasons to celebrate – with three significant anniversaries, a national double award, the Carinthian Summer festival, new shops, swimming fun at Lake Faak, and a diverse summer program.

• Carinthian Summer in Villach: This year, the Carinthian Summer festival begins with two opening ceremonies on July 3rd and 4th, held ceremoniously in Villach’s City Parish Church. The official opening follows on July 5th with clarinetist Sharon Kam, baritone Georg Nigl, composer HK Gruber, and the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. Until August 2nd, visitors can enjoy a varied festival program ranging from classical concerts, readings, and dance performances to musical hikes and sound exploration journeys for children. The grand finale is the concert West Side Stories on August 23rd. Tickets and more information about the program are available here.

• New shops for Villach: As part of the initiative “My Idea – My Shop,” eight new stores have recently opened in Villach’s city center, including:
  • click & bike: contactless bike rental station (Ankershofengasse 3)
  • Il Tesoro & Oceanne Beachwear: specialty store for hats and swimwear (Italiener Straße 11)
  • DNB Cards & Games: trading card store and meeting point for card game fans (Köllpassage at Hauptplatz)
    Starting in early July, a tailor shop by Marie-Chantal Pipp (Lederergasse 4) will complement the offering, with four more new and distinct shops opening afterwards. This variety brings fresh energy to Villach’s city center.
     
• 80 years Villach Kirchtag: This year, the Villach Kirchtag takes place for the 80th time! From July 27th to August 3rd, Austria’s largest traditional festival will celebrate its anniversary under the motto “more quality, more tradition, and more folk culture.” The festival week starts on July 27th with a church service in the City Parish Church, followed by the ceremonial beer tapping. On July 28th, the popular Jakobimarkt opens, where visitors can admire and purchase traditional crafts. Folk music, culinary delights, rides, and the official Kirchtag heart badge with exclusive benefits complete the experience. A program overview is available here.
   
• Summer enjoyment at Lake Faak: This year again, the summer bus, line 5194 of Postbus AG, runs from June 28th to September 30th, bringing Villach residents with primary residence comfortably and free of charge to the beaches at Lake Faak. The summer bus ticket is available in the current city newspaper, at the town hall, the BUS:SI info point, and the Postbus customer office. Additionally, the “Business Beach” at Lake Faak has been completely renovated – it now combines modern infrastructure with a fantastic view and invites people to work comfortably outdoors.
   
• Double award: The city of Villach received the Austrian Administrative Award twice for innovative projects. Recognized were the Integrated Urban Development Concept Nikolai Quarter (ISEK) and the mobile asphalt recycling plant. The double award confirms the city administration’s high competence and efficiency.
   
• 60 years Villach Alpine Road: The popular excursion route to Rosstratte celebrates its 60th anniversary on July 18th with a lively brunch featuring music, children’s programs, and regional products from Nature Park partner businesses. The Alpine Road is currently undergoing extensive renovation.

• 10 years Kinosommer Villach: Since 2015, the Kinosommer Villach has been a staple of the cultural summer. For the 10th anniversary of this popular open-air cinema experience, 33 varied films will be shown in the stylishly decorated Renaissance courtyard of the music school. The program ranges from sophisticated arthouse films to exclusive previews. All details, the program, and current highlights can be found at kinosommervillach.at.
   
• Events: In July, street artists will amaze visitors on July 4th and 5th from 10 a.m. onward with impressive tricks and spectacular performances, while starting July 4th the Spectrum Festival offers three days of dance performances, theater, workshops, and live music. The art mile Walk of Art in Lederergasse gives art lovers the chance to purchase exhibits on site and watch artists at work on July 4th, 11th, and 18th (starting at 2 p.m.). Additionally, the cultural association postWERK invites visitors to the annual exhibition “anVERWANDT” at Dinzlschloss – the vernissage takes place on July 8th. The fashion event series “Fashion & Music” kicks off on July 18th with a traditional costume fashion show at Hauptplatz.