It was finely choreographed as an extraordinary dance troupe, Mexican waves and a Spanish-speaking commentator stirred up the flag-waving crowd.

Locals expecting to see no more than a kick-about among the players, were greeted by a screaming man dressed as a woman on stilts surrounded by performers in traditional costume, one of them a devil in a blue mask.

An Andean band with guitars and pipes, a more familiar sight to Europeans, provided musical accompaniment.

Apparently to mark the festival of Saint Pedro and Saint Pablo, it also celebrated Ecuador's first open training session after a week at their base in central Germany.

Monday's events were a novel experience for a town that prides itself on diversity but is first and foremost a spa and health resort -- a calm place that has won prizes for its floral decorations.

"Visitors are mesmerised by the magnificent gardens, parks and historical buildings," the town's website says.

Yet the place is warming to its duty as a World Cup host.

Ecuador were greeted by some 2,000 fans and locals when they arrived a week ago and some 3,000 watched them struggle to beat a German student team 4-3 on Friday.

A 40-strong Ecuadorean orchestra with Andean instruments are lined up to play a concert on Wednesday ahead of their team's opening game in Group A against Poland on Friday.

Although hosts Germany are in the same group, the town is encouraging residents to back Ecuador as their second team in the hope of extending their stay beyond June 20.

The only dampener on Monday was a brief shower that sent some fair-weather supporters packing, although several hundred die-hard fans remained.