Image: VOLKER Weihbold
Unmistakable drumming, unmistakable costumes and unbelievable acrobatics: Mit “Three, two, one, go!” an exuberant festival atmosphere settled over the city on Thursday, which will not be broken until Saturday. A colorful parade through Landstraße opened the 35th Linzer cobbled spectacle.
Jugglers twirled countless balls through the air, next to a virtuoso violinist, to whose music an acrobat performed gymnastics on the shoulders of her colleague. The language of art united the approximately 300 street artists from a wide variety of nations. They come from Argentina via Japan, Canada, Australia – and also from Austria.
Video: OÖNTV was present at the opening parade and asked around among the jugglers and visitors
“Mom, is the giant real?”, asked a little boy, who watched in disbelief as white-clad stilt walkers walked past him. In the middle of the action, the fascinated spectators couldn’t help but be amazed and applaud. To get the best view of the artists, the audience crowded right into the parade. That wasn’t a problem for the entertainment professionals – without further ado, the onlookers were asked to dance and celebrate with them.
Dense hustle and bustle filled the country road up to the main square, where the event officially started, before the artists went to their venues. “Today I’m showing my family from the Waldviertel what’s going on here”, says Martin Pertzl. Born in the Waldviertel, he has lived in Linz for 12 years and has been enthusiastic about the different attractions that take place on every corner ever since.
OÖN photographer Volker Weihbold delivers the best pictures of the plaster spectacle:
On Friday and Saturday from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., viewers can still immerse themselves in the magic of the spectacle. A wide variety of performances start every hour on the hour at 40 locations spread across the entire city centre.
Source: Nachrichten