The Villacher Kirchtag is Austria's largest traditional folk festival, held each year in late July and early August. For one week the entire old town transforms into an open-air celebration of Carinthian folk culture: traditional costumes (Trachten), brass bands, folk dancing, and market stalls selling regional food and crafts fill the streets from the Hauptplatz outward.
The festival draws visitors from across Austria, Slovenia, and Italy, and the border-town character of Villach gives it a more international mix than most Austrian folk events. The food stalls are a particular strength — grilled meats, Kasnudeln (cheese-filled pasta dumplings, a Carinthian speciality), and the local wines from the Slovenian border region. The atmosphere in the evenings, when the bands are in full swing and the Hauptplatz is packed, has genuine energy rather than the self-conscious staging of many heritage festivals. If your trip coincides with it, clear your schedule for an evening.