The Hofburg Silvesterball
When our friends asked if we wanted to go to a New Year’s Eve party in Vienna, we were game. We hadn’t been to Austria yet and it was on our travel list, so why not go for New Year’s? At the time, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.
It turns out, the party they invited us to wasn’t really a party at all, it was a formal white tie* ball. Not just any ball either, but Europe’s most famous New Year’s Eve ball. I know this because when I mentioned to a friend that I was going to the Hofburg Silvesterball, she gasped and said, “You aren’t just going to any ball, you are going to THE ball!”
(*Haven’t heard of white tie? I hadn’t either. With a quick Google search I learned it is even more formal than black tie. How can that be, you ask? Men are required to wear tuxedos WITH TAILS. Yup, full on penguin suit.)
The Tickets
The tickets were surprisingly affordable given the nature of the event, just $170 for entrance and a complimentary glass of champagne. For $30 more we were able to sign up for a Waltz lesson, because, as is customary, one must ring in the New Year with a Midnight Waltz (…ah yes, indeed).
Of course, there was a more expensive ticket option, one that provided dinner and a seat throughout the night, but for $600 a pop. That kind of money is another trip altogether for this Roaming Bull, so it was the commoners ticket for me!
Winter in Vienna
We got to Vienna on the 30th, and just walking through the streets made me feel like royalty. The Hofburg Palace sits in the heart of downtown, and the entire area’s architecture compliments its Baroque style — even the stores in the modern Goldenes Quartier shopping district look like they belong in Versailles. Streets are lined with horse drawn carriages driven by men in top hats, and coffee shops feel more like princesses’ waiting rooms.
What’s more, the Christmas Markets were still open. Little wooden cabins lined parks and squares, and the smells of gingerbread, mulled wine, sausages, and cheesy delights wafted through the air. Walking through the markets felt a bit like walking along the royal grounds with a delicious snack in hand! #winning
Ball or no ball, Vienna in winter was truly a magical destination.
Learning the Waltz
Considering I was born with two left feet, I felt a bit intimidated by the prospect of the Midnight Waltz. So much so, I even bought professional grade dance heels for the ball*.
The daytime Waltz class on the 31st helped to calm my nerves. Not because I learned to dance the perfect Waltz (trust me, I did not), but because it set the stage for the night ahead. I learned that most other guests were born with my same handicap, that my dance shoes were not only functional but stylish (I got so many compliments!) and that the nature of the ball was simply to have fun.
The class was also a true Vienna experience. The head instructor, in the most delightful German accent, gave us a bit of back story on the dance and its importance in Austrian history. Then, before teaching us the steps, our instructors performed a beautifully choreographed dance to classical Waltz music that made me feel as though I had traveled back in time.
*I will never go back to wearing normal heels again. Dance shoes are God’s gift to women, I hardly noticed I was wearing heels at all. SERIOUSLY! My feet didn’t hurt once, and I am the type to kick off her heels 5 minutes into a party.
The Ball
After a day of wandering around Christmas Markets — give me a Christmas Market and I am a happy lady — it was time for the main event.
Lights danced along the walls outside the Hofburg Palace, and walking inside was something out of the movies. The entry hall felt like the red carpet… probably because they had actually rolled out a red carpet. But in all seriousness, the crowd was dressed to the nines, and the decor was avant-garde Hollywood. The hall was lined with modern light sculptures and at the end stood a grandiose marble staircase. Spotlights lit up the stairway and at the top sat a giant silver globe welcoming us to the ball.
Servers passed out champagne while guests mingled and took photographs. Before we even had the chance to head upstairs, the entertainment began. Ballet dancers in silky blue evening gowns and tuxedos fluttered down the stairs, welcoming us with twirls and plies. It felt like something out of a dream.
Upstairs, a string quartet played whimsically in the hall. The ballroom had a grand stage with an orchestra, flanked by a wall of twinkling lights and a large clock ticking down the hours to midnight.
The evening’s performances soon commenced. First, the grand entrance of the debutantes all dressed in white. Next, the ballerinas in their tutus whose dance was reminiscent of the sugar plum fairies. To finish, an opera performance that left me with goosebumps. It was truly a delight!
When all was said and done, the real party began. In addition to the main hall were other ballrooms that had their own bars and dance floors — each with a different musical theme (from disco to rap), so everyone could dance to their favorite beats.
Just before the stroke of midnight, all were called back to the main ballroom to ring in the new year and welcome 2017 with the Waltz. I don’t know if I did it justice, but I sure had a great time dancing with all the guests (and I’m not going to lie, I may have been singing Cinderella’s Ten Minutes Ago the whole time)!
Moments later, the loud cracks of fireworks made us rush to the windows where we watched the sky light up above the city. Of course, the night was still young, and the Hofburg crowd knows how to keep the party going. We danced the night away into the early morning hours!
New Year’s Day
If you ever find yourself in Vienna on New Year’s day, buy a ticket to one of the many orchestral performances that take place throughout the city. The shows are a Vienna tradition. Sadly, I waited too long and wasn’t able to get tickets. The performances are broadcasted live on TV, however, so at the very least, I was able to listen to the mastery of Mozart over New Year’s brunch.
While I may have missed my chance to see a live show, I did enjoy a New Year’s spa day! Heading to the spa on January 1st is going to be a new tradition for me — nothing cures a hangover better, trust me! Spas are an important part of Northern European culture, and a day of pampering in this part of the world is much more affordable than the states. For just $30 we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon of saunas, hot tubs, and steam rooms. It really was the perfect way to end a fairy tale trip!
roaming bull travels 