Next week, the Hahnenkamm races will once once more attract numerous party-loving and show-loving stars and starlets to the “chamois city” of Kitzbühel and the surrounding area. Their leader: The “Styrian Oak”, Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who will not only be inviting people to his climate charity auction on Thursday evening, but will also be honoring the number one when it comes to flashbulbs, the Weißwurst Party.
As always, the latter takes place on Friday evening at the Stanglwirt in Going and is one of the biggest highlights of the “Snowciety” festival. The fact that “Arnie” won’t be missing at this one is in the nature of the Weißwurst party thing. The 76-year-old megastar and ex-governor, who traditionally also spends the night on site, will probably celebrate the communal 31st Weißwurst Zuzeln once more with his friend Heather Milligan. It was still unclear whether the “Terminator” also has one of his children in tow once more. It is certain that Stanglwirt chef Thomas Ritzer will act as “boiler master” at the Weißwurstsause, according to the APA.
Numerous celebrities have announced their participation
It is also undisputed that countless celebrities will gather around the cauldron, because the “usual suspects” are there once more. These include: Arnie’s friend Ralf Moeller, Andreas Gabalier, Gerry Friedle aka DJ Ötzi, TV star Elton as well as sports legends from the brand Fritz Strobl, Mario Matt, Marc Girardelli and Felix Neureuther. They didn’t want to reveal anything to the APA regarding this year’s show act, but only this much: They are “friends of the house” and it will be “emotional.” Around 2,500 guests are expected at the Stanglwirt Balthasar Hauser hotel.
The day before, also at the Stanglwirt, Schwarzenegger will have celebrated the actual start of the Hahnenkamm event week with his “climate charity auction”. The superstar, who had great success last year with the action comedy series “Fubar” on Netflix and his book guide “Be Useful”, will once once more bring a whole series of well-known faces and, not least, media representatives to Going at the foot of the Wilder Kaiser lure. As has been the case since 2020, the proceeds will benefit the “Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative”, which supports climate projects worldwide and, for example, organizes the “Austrian World Summit” in Vienna.
There are a lot of things up for auction for this very best cause, such as a living room concert by “TheBossHoss”, a training session with Schwarzenegger himself or a watch from Audemars Piguet that was made exclusively for him and is limited to 20 pieces worldwide. Before all of this can be auctioned off, the “Red Carpet” needs to be walked extensively by celebrities: Felix Neureuther, Ralf Moeller, Mark Keller, model Barbara Meier, The BossHoss, Thommy Ten and Amélie van Tass, Niclas Castello and Johan Eliasch cavort around there.
Although no names have been announced yet, the celebrity density at the “KitzRaceParty” on Saturday evening will probably be close to that of the events at Stanglwirt. In the VIP temple of Kitz marketer Harti Weirather, which sits directly on the finish slope, the celebrities once once more practice walking the red carpet. There will also be a music act – also still unknown – once more. In 2020, the “Black Eyed Peas” were responsible for the background music, and in 2022 it was DJ Ötzi and “Chico & The Gypsies”. It is doubtful whether Signa founder Rene Benko, a “RaceParty” regular who has gotten into huge trouble, will also be present. But: Nothing is fixed in Kitz.
On the same day, however, the celebrities have to do completely different activities than shine and present themselves in the media: namely skiing more or less well. For a good cause – for mountain farming families in Tyrol and South Tyrol in need – Melissa Naschenweng, Sebastian Vettel, Gerhard Berger and Didier Cuche, for example, strap on the boards that mean the world not only in Kitzbühel on the finish slope of the “Streif”. It was still unclear whether “finish judge” Bernie Ecclestone would make the trip to Kitz.
At roughly the same time as the “KitzRaceParty”, the “Lobster Party” and the “Schnitzelessen” in Rosi Schipflinger’s “Sonnbergstubn” high above Kitzbühel will take place on Saturday in the Hotel Kitzhof. At the “Lobster Party” you will most likely meet ski legends like Karl Schranz or Franz Klemm, at the “Schnitzelessen” once more Elton, actor Erol Sander, “Big Brother” legend Jürgen Milski and – last, but certainly not least – Andreas Gabalier, like them APA learned.
Another event on the Hahnenkamm Week program is the “Kitz Legends Night”. This is already scheduled for Wednesday. In addition to the presentation of this year’s “Inspiration Award”, the winner of which is still unclear, celebrities and sports icons such as Maria Höfl-Riesch, Ivica Kostelic, Jan Hudec, Elisabeth Görgl, Daron Rahlves and Alexander Köll are also expected here.
“Kitzbühel reception” of the Tyrolean state government
Politicians don’t miss out on the big celebrations either. The Tyrolean state government is inviting people to attend the tried-and-tested “Kitzbühel reception” on Thursday evening, including the “national reception” with riflemen and musicians in the “Goldene Gams” in the Vorderstadt. In addition to State Governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP), you can also meet ÖSV President Roswitha Stadlober, skiing greats of the past such as Ernst Hinterseer and Hias Leitner and Sonnbergstubn landlady Schipflinger. The Lower Austrians don’t want to be left out either: Shortly before the “Tyrol Reception”, Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) invites you to the “Lower Austria Reception” under the motto “unplugged!” into the Kitzhof. Expected there are, among others, “Million Show” presenter Armin Assinger, ex-goalie Michael Konsel, ex-slalom ace Reinfried Herbst, Fritz Strobl and ORF general director Roland Weißmann. Mikl Leitner’s counterpart Mattle will also celebrate the friendly federal state. Various Lower Austrian winemakers will be presented, among others.
