Markt St. Martin celebrates 25th anniversary of martinikirtag festival

Residents of Markt St. Martin in Austria celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Martinikirtag festival to mark the regional state holiday.

The event began with a high mass at 10:00 involving Military Dean Alexander Wessely and priests Grzegorz Kotynia and Basil Ikechukwu Obiekii. Following the mass, a traditional opening ceremony took place at 11:00 featuring Saint Martin on horseback and children from the Markt St. Martin kindergarten. The festival program included various musical performances throughout the day.

Local groups like Zamkehra, Wos Was i Wia Musi, and the folk dance groups Springginkal and Deutschkreutz provided regional music. The event also featured a Brazilian samba show at 16:00 and 19:00, a performance by the band 11er-Blech at 17:00, and a late night disco set by DJ Miles starting at 22:00. Families and children accessed a variety of activities, including a puppet theater, pony riding, and a free bouncy castle.

The festival also hosted information stands from the Austrian Armed Forces and the Red Cross, a potato and pumpkin farm, and a chainsaw artist named Andreas Fraunschiel. Organizers included a celebrity serving stand from 17:00 to 19:00 to raise money for the charity Licht ins Dunkel.