Admission costs 6 euros

If you want to go to the carnival party in Graz, you have to pay

The big parade starts in Graz at 12.15 pm.

(Bild: Sepp Pail)

The whole of Styria is dressed as a fool these days. In the Styrian capital, however, the big party on Shrove Tuesday has a rather stale aftertaste. 

The carnival party in Graz's Bermuda Triangle has been going for 31 years now. Since last year, however, there has been a major innovation that has not only been met with enthusiasm: between Glockenspielplatz, Färberplatz and Mehlplatz, only those who pay admission are allowed to party. You pay six euros for the party with around 10,000 people in costume; last year it was five euros ... If you buy your ticket online in advance, you pay four euros.

Scandal or just a contribution towards expenses?
Many people in Graz and party-goers from all over Styria call it a real scandal that you have to pay admission for a party in a public place. And some restaurateurs also have little use for this innovation. "We don't want to see this as an entrance fee, but as a contribution towards expenses," organizer Robert Helbig tries to calm things down.

More and more regulations
In return, visitors also get some improvements in terms of comfort and safety: "We used to have 22 security guards, this year we have 55. Before, we had 14 portable toilets, now there are 49." However, according to his own statements, there were 60 security guards last year ... 

In any case, the regulations have increased year on year, says Helbig, until the event could no longer be managed by the local hosts. "But there are few complaints about it, I've only received two or three." Local residents receive their own free passes.

The parade on Tuesday starts at 12.15 pm, the party from 1.30 pm, from 4 pm there will be a DJ.