Steyr city festival draws record crowds despite heat wave

The Steyr city festival attracted about 22,800 visitors despite a severe heat wave, the highest turnout in years. Organisers installed water fountains and sprinklers, made the central square car‑free and coordinated with the Red Cross to provide cooling stations.

In the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, outdoor swimming pools reported record attendance as the high temperatures drove people to seek relief. The Rheinauen pool expects around 65,000 visitors by the end of June, 20% more than the previous year, while the Walgaubad in Nenzing temporarily closed after a rare chlorine‑gas tank failure, with repairs completed and the pool set to reopen.

Both events illustrate how the heat wave is influencing public leisure activities and prompting safety measures across Austria.