The Donauinselfest (German for "Danube Island Festival") is a free open-air music festival which occurs annually at Donauinsel in Vienna, Austria. The festival is hosted by SPÖ Wien. It is the largest open-air music festival in the world, with around 3 million visitors over 3 days. The event Performances take place in the festival area which is 4.5 km long and consists of 11 different open-air stages in 16 tented areas around the island. Stages are added or removed depending on the performance lineup. Local bands, DJs, and many world-famous artists have performed at the festival since its beginning in 1984. According to numerous media reports, the Donauinselfest is among Europe's biggest open-air festivals with over 3 million visitors. To ensure the safety of visitors, "house rules" were introduced in 2007 and checkpoint controls were established to help control certain items (such as glass and liquor inside the festival perimeter). A strong police presence, in tandem with around 1,500 volunteers from around the world, help make the Donauinselfest one of the most secure events in Europe. Food stands offer a variety of Austrian and international cuisine, including Thai, Greek, Italian, Indian, and Turkish. Although all concerts are free, financial experts estimate the event generates €40 million in city revenue due to increased tourism. Traffic connection (how to get there): OEBB Travel Portal (trains) Austrian Airlines Wiener Linien (public transport in Vienna) Areas referred to as "islands" are sponsored by radio stations, newspapers, and other companies. Rock the Island Contest The winners of the RTIC (Rock the Island Contest), which is focusing on the support of talented Austrian newcomers, performed in the living room of their fans. This way, Austrian talents prepare themselves for their gig, and their fans experience a private live concert in their room. History In 1983 , SPÖ politician, invented the organization of a one-day party near the Floridsdorferbrücke, to promote the attractiveness of the Donauinsel as a recreational area. Organizers expected some 15,000 people, but 160,000 showed up. The event became annual the following year (300,000 visitors) and meanwhile always attracts more than two million people during three days of activities (2.9 million in 2006, "only" 2.6 in 2007, as, due to a heavy thunderstorm, a few concerts had to be canceled on opening day). 1993 The most memorable concert was Falco's in 1993, in front of almost 100,000 fans: The band played during a torrential