Large crowds at Christmas markets – salzburg.ORF.at
On the second Sunday in Advent, you could really feel how the people of Salzburg longed for a Christmas atmosphere, contemplative music and Advent scents. The big run on the Advent markets started early in the afternoon on Sunday.
Big crowds don’t stop
Right from the start, the rush of visitors to the municipal Heuern was great everywhere and continues to be – in the big cities and also in the small ones in the country, such as in Glanegg in Grödig (Flachgau) at the Farmer’s Advent in the Gutshof: “That’s something different – the market here is really small and cozy. I did a Christmas market marathon this week so that I have something to compare it to and such small stands with handicrafts have something to offer,” says Fabia Klinger.
People enjoy being together at the markets
People enjoy being together and meeting friends and acquaintances at the sights while enjoying culinary specialties. This means that the waiting time at the stands can probably be longer, such as on Sunday at the Advent Magic in Salzburg-Hellbrunn: “Rush is the right word. I think everyone is just happy that things are back to normal after two years and that you have the opportunity to enjoy the contemplative time,” says Gerald Stocker from the organization team of the Hellbrunn Advent Magic, who is also responsible for the farmer’s Advent in Glanegg.
“It couldn’t be better”
The mood among the standers is also good – “they are also very happy that things are going so well. Basically, it couldn’t be better,” says Gerald Stocker from Glanegger Bauernadvent and Hellbrunner Adventzauber.
Crowds cause traffic chaos around Hellbrunn
Already at the beginning of the Advent market in Hellbrunn there was a heated debate about the traffic concept and the traffic jams at the Advent market. Most visitors come with their cars. At weekends there are sometimes hardly any parking spaces, even though a total of around 800 parking spaces are available at the Hellbrunn Advent Magic.
Hellbrunn relies on a control system, folders, police, public transport
20,000 to 25,000 euros were invested here for the concept – there is a parking guidance system, stewards are on duty, as well as the police. In order to ease the traffic situation around Hellbrunn, more buses have been going to Hellbrunn since the first weekend in Advent. “I can only appeal to visitors to notice and use the guidance systems. We have steward services everywhere, the police are on duty and we try to use traffic light solutions to guide visitors to the right parking spaces, and we can only appeal to them to use public transport,” says Stocker.
Citizens’ list and KPÖ criticize the traffic situation
The citizens’ list and the KPÖ plus in the Salzburg municipal council criticized the traffic situation in the city of Salzburg. On the Advent weekends, the rush of coaches and cars is great. It would have to be enforced that numerous parking spaces are available on the outskirts of the city and that buses drive from there to the center all year round, said citizen list club chairwoman Ingeborg Haller. Local councilor Kay-Michael Dankl from the KPÖ plus also called for a combination of park-and-ride spaces and shuttle buses to be offered to tourists.