WHAT’S NEW!? #9 - VILLACH IN DECEMBER 2021

The welcome2villach team collects the most important news from around Villach in a compact, monthly “News Story”, with links to more information. For at least half of December we will be in Lockdown 4.0, but there is still some news to report.

• In the middle of November the City of Villach started “Challenge 3000 - Villach vaccinates”, a campaign whose goal is to give 3,000 people their first COVID-19 shot by December 31, 2021. If this goal is accomplished, every vaccinated resident of Villach can take part in the city’s vaccine lottery - you could win one of three €3,000 Cityshop gift certificates, among other great prizes. 
   
• ORF has also organized an “Austrian Vaccine Lottery”, with prizes like a prefabricated single family home, an electric car, kitchen furnishings, and smart tv devices. Anyone 18 years and older who lives in Austria and received their first, second, or third COVID-19 vaccination between October 1, 2021, and December 20, 2021, can participate.
   
• The city has expanded their vaccination offerings due to the increased demand for shots. In addition to the existing Tuesday and Friday vaccination days, you can now also get a vaccination on Wednesdays from 12-7 p.m. On Wednesdays only the BioNTech-Pfizer shots are available, and on Tuesdays and Fridays you can get Pfizer for a first, second, or third shot, and Moderna for second or third shots. 
   
• Since the middle of November there has been a winter season charge of €.90 per half hour at the Naturpark Dobratsch parking lots 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, which you can pay with coins or your ATM card. This fee should help protect the mountains and the natural area. Visitors are thus encouraged to use the Nature Park shuttle rather than their own car. The shuttle trip costs €3 roundtrip for adults and kids and youth ride free. Information about the bus schedule can be found here. 
   
• The company Sto, a global leader in thermal insulation composite systems, has spent around €10 million expanding its Villach location, and has moved its production facilities from Germany to Villach. The investment was made keeping eco-friendliness in mind - for example, a 1,000 m² photovoltaic system provides them with their own electricity.
   
• Infineon is hiring! A total of 750 new jobs were created with the completion of the new chip factory, and at the moment they are looking for around 170 new employees. Check out the job postings here.

• It is the Advent season, but we also find ourselves in the middle of a lockdown. We have summarized here what is and what isn’t allowed in terms of Christmas markets:
   
  • The Thomas Brezina WinterWunderWald (Winter Wonder Woods) has been shining in its full splendor in the park of the Parkcafé since November 27, and it’s not only children who are awed by it. Briefly: It’s amazing. A visit is totally worth it! 
     
  • The skating rink on the Rathausplatz is also open, so you can get some exercise. A maximum of 45 people are allowed on the ice at any one time and the 3G rule applies.
     
  • The Advent Market and the Artisan Craft Market are not allowed to open at the moment. However, the Advent food stands on the Hauptplatz are allowed to serve food and drinks! (You may only consume the food and drinks 50 meters from the stands, which is the case for all food service establishments during the lockdown.)
     
• Villach’s youth has voted. There have been 17 new youth council members in Villach since the middle of November, who were elected by around 1,000 eligible youth voters. For the next two years these young council members will have a say in the future of the city. The focus of these 17 young people is clear: they want to see progress on issues related to the environment, equality, integration, sports, and recreational activities.
   
• Until December 10 many buildings, including Dinzlschloss, the administrative building of the LKH Villach Hospital, the Evangelical Church in the Stadtpark, and the Heiligenkreuz Church will be illuminated in orange in the evenings because the City of Villach wants to bring light to an important issue. The city is participating in the UN’s “Orange the World” campaign, which brings attention to and fights against violence against women. The City of Villach offers straightforward help for women who are in emergency situations (also during the lockdown). You can also get help by calling the Austrian-wide women’s hotline against violence (0800 222 555).