Over 100,000 blooms at the most colorful ball of the season; Flower Ball couple chosen for the first time
Vienna (OTS) – Last Friday evening marked the anniversary of the 100th Flower Ball of the Vienna City Gardens. The red carpet was rolled out again in the Vienna City Hall, over 100,000 colorful flowers decorated the ballrooms and over 3,400 ball guests showed up at what was probably the most colorful ball of the season with unusual gowns and elegant tuxedos.
The Flower Ball is probably the most beautifully decorated ball of the season – because the Vienna City Gardens provide a particularly colorful sea of flowers at “their” ball. Under this year’s motto “A floral anniversary”, around 100 Viennese city gardeners once again impressively demonstrated their creativity and skills, making the Flower Ball the ball highlight of 2024.
„Age makes beautiful. This is not a platitude, but a fact and the Vienna Flower Ball is the best proof of it! Despite – or perhaps because of – his proud age, he is and remains without a doubt the most beautiful in the Viennese ball world. The creative minds and skillful hands of Vienna’s city gardeners once again transformed the town hall into a colorful sea of flowers and have outdone themselves in the process. Following this logic, this year’s 100th Flower Ball was the most beautiful in its history“, says climate councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky happily.
„With their everyday work, Vienna’s city gardeners make a significant contribution to the high quality of life in Vienna – through well-kept parks and green spaces, shady trees and magnificent flower beds. On January 12th, the guests experienced in concentrated form what enriches everyday urban life: with a sea of flowers made up of 100,000 blossoms, the Viennese city gardeners show their creative potential and high level of craftsmanship and made the 100th Flower Ball an extraordinary ball experience“, adds city garden director Rainer Weisgram.
Grand opening and musical entertainment
The 100th Flower Ball was ceremoniously opened by Mayor Michael Ludwig, Climate City Councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky and City Garden Director Rainer Weisgram. Among the prominent ball guests were former mayors Michael Häupl & Barbara Hörnlein, city councilor for culture Veronica Kaup-Hasler and city councilor for planning Ulli Sima.
100 couples from the Young Women’s and Young Men’s Committee from the Rueff Dance School kicked things off in the ballroom with choreographies for the works of Carl Michael Ziehrer (“Fächerpolonaise” op. 525), Johann Strauss Sohn (“Flower Festival Polka” op. 111) and Johann Strauss Son (“Kaiserwalzer” op. 437). Afterwards, people danced in the ballroom to the sounds of the string orchestra under the direction of Wolfgang Steubl and his big band. There were modern rhythms in the Volkshalle with “Wanna Dance?”. A “salsa lounge” in the city senate meeting room invited people to dance salsa under professional guidance from the Chris Dance School and Hydra – The Party Band entertained in the coat of arms hall. At midnight the extremely popular “Bat Quadrille” took place under the direction of the Rueff Dance School. A special highlight for dance enthusiasts: The “Bat Quadrille” da capo was repeated at 2 a.m. The ball guests danced with DJ Mike in the Friedrich-Schmidt-Halle, which had been converted into a disco, until the early hours of the morning.
Flower Ball Queen and Flower Ball King
The coronation of the Flower Ball royal couple at this year’s 100th Flower Ball was undoubtedly another highlight of the evening. From 10 p.m. all visitors had the opportunity to pose as flower ball queen and flower ball king and at 1 a.m. the lucky winning couple was finally announced. The flower ball queen Sandra and the flower ball king Marc received free tickets for the next flower ball as a gift. The royal couple was very happy and the other guests also enjoyed the excitement of choosing the flower ball.
Flower dream in Vienna City Hall
Whether anthuriums (Anthurium), cymbidiums (Cymbidium), roses (Rosa), lilies (Lilium) or carnations (Dianthus), the over 100,000 flowers have the colors yellow, orange, pink, red and violet in the ball rooms of the Vienna Town Hall dominates. This floral splendor was particularly noticeable through a wonderfully fresh spring scent. The flower raffle caused further enthusiasm: 1,000 tickets were bought by the ball guests within a short time and every single one was able to look forward to a win. Each lady also received a small floral greeting. After the event, the floral decorations will be used for another ball and then presented to residents of a nursing home.
Support from “Jugend am Werk” and the vocational school for horticulture and floristry
This year, floristry apprentices from “Jugend am Werk” under the direction of Ulrike Moosbrugger supported the Vienna City Gardens in decorating the ballrooms in the Vienna City Hall. The young people were very committed to this for days. This year, the students from the Vocational School for Horticulture and Floristry in Vienna will also be making the bouquets and floral pins for the debutants at the 100th Flower Ball.
Culinary delights
In the restaurant area (Small Salon), the kitchen of the Vienna Rathauskeller treated ball guests to selected dishes and drinks between 9 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. Award-winning wines from the city’s own Cobenzl winery were also represented. Additional refreshments were provided by several champagne stands along the festival stairs. As a crowning finale, each guest received a breakfast bag from Ströck and an anniversary present when they left the ball.
From a flower wreath to a floral anniversary
As early as the 1920s, the city of Vienna organized dance parties in the “Weise Rose” restaurant in Vienna’s Prater. Even back then, the dance event was lavishly decorated with flowers. The annual flower wreath moved to what was then the “Vargas Dreherpark” in Meidling from 1949 to 1955 and developed into a flower ball as it grew in size. The balls between 1958 and 1987 were held in the Sofia Halls and opened by the State Opera Ballet. According to reports, the ballet master of the Vienna State Opera, Ewald Vondrak, was always very keen to teach the Viennese city gardeners, their children and older colleagues the correct steps and figures of a polonaise during this period.
Since 1988, the Flower Ball of the Vienna City Gardens has found its home in the Vienna City Hall and is now taking place for the 100th time – “A floral anniversary”.
Date announcement for another festive event: The 101st Flower Ball!
Preparations for the upcoming Flower Ball are already in full swing. If you are already feeling the anticipation of being there live at the next Flower Ball, please make a note of January 17, 2025. On this day, the Vienna City Gardens celebrate the 101st Flower Ball. Look forward to a breathtaking display of flowers and experience an unforgettable ball night with the Vienna City Gardens.
Photos in brief: https://presse.wien.gv.at/bilder
Questions & Contact:
Pamela Ziegler
Head of Public Relations
Vienna city gardens
Phone: 01 4000/42351
E-Mail: pamela.ziegler@wien.gv.at