In Vienna, the ball season reaches its peak in January and February. The old tradition of carnival balls continues to thrive in the city. While some dancers enjoy following the three-quarter time of the waltzes, others may prefer letting loose to a disco beat.
Vienna's ball season offers more than 2000 hours of dancing.
On New Year's Eve, the Emperor's Ball starts off the ball season in grand style at the magnificent Imperial Palace. Numerous other famous ball events are held here as well: the Hunters' Ball (Jan. 30, 2012), the Doctors' Ball (Jan. 28, 2012) and the Lawyer's Ball (Feb. 18, 2012).
The Coffee-house Owners' Ball (Feb. 10, 2012) is one of the most atmospheric. Each year it brings about 5,000 visitors to Vienna's Imperial Palace and into the Redoutensäle. Many of the guests end the night at Café Landtmann, to which they are transported in a fiaker shuttle, true to style.
The Opera Ball (Feb 16, 2012) at the Vienna State Opera is legendary. On this one day, visitors have the unique opportunity to see the famous opera house on Ringstrasse not only from the spectators' seats but actually experience it "backstage" surrounded by many music celebrities.
The Vienna Philarmonic (Jan. 19, 2012) opens the doors to its ball at the Vienna Musikverein. However, at this event the musicians of this world-famous orchestra can only be found with their instruments during the introduction. Because even the performers of the Vienna Philarmonic want to shake a leg now and then.
The sweetest ball is the Bonbon Ball (Feb. 17, 2012) a the Vienna Konzerthaus. This ball is known for its fun and informal ambiance. The Strauss Brothers once celebrated their greatest accomplishments at the Vienna Kursalon - and now visitors can dance to the tune of waltzes at the Johann Strauss Ball (Feb. 11, 2012).
The 90th Flower Ball in City Hall (Jan. 13, 2012) is dedicated entirely to "150 years of Viennese city gardens". In the Vienna Konzerthaus, a costume ball is held for the first time, under the motto "From Rio to Vienna - From Carnival to Gschnas" (Feb. 20, 2012).
- Emperor's Ball, Dec. 31, 2011
www.kaiserball.com - Flower Ball, Jan. 13, 2012
www.wien.gv.at/umwelt/parks/veranstaltungen/blumenball.html - Vienna Philarmonic Ball, Jan. 19, 2012
www.wienerphilharmoniker.at - Doctor's Ball, Jan. 28, 2012
www.aerzteball.at - Hunter's Ball, Jan. 30, 2012
www.verein-grueneskreuz.at - Coffee-house Owners' Ball, Feb. 10, 2012
www.kaffeesiederball.at - Johann Strauss Ball, Feb. 11, 2012
www.johannstraussball.com - Opera Ball, Feb 16, 2012
www.wiener-staatsoper.at - Bonbon Ball, Feb 17, 2012
www.bonbonball.at - Lawyer's Ball, Feb 18, 2012
www.juristenball.at - Costume ball, Feb. 20, 2012
http://konzerthaus.at/hoehepunkte/kostuemball/
You can find an overview of the largest balls in Vienna here.
