30 years of Salzburg’s Harvest Festival Wagrain-Kleinarl – ‘Music in Harvest Festival’

This year, 76 locations in SalzburgerLand are celebrating the 30th anniversary of Bauernherbst (Harvest Festival season) with around 2,000 events and festivals. Under the motto ‘G'sungen und G'spielt’ (singing and playing), the anniversary is all about music and promises unforgettable moments full of tradition and enjoyment.

From mid-August, Bauernherbst heralds the arrival of the ‘fifth season’: a time to celebrate the harvest, savour regional delicacies, and cultivate conviviality.

In Wagrain-Kleinarl, too, the entire year was brought to life under the motto ‘G'sungen und G'spielt’ (singing and playing) with a varied programme full of music and customs. A wide range of events was on offer, from music and theatre in the market square to atmospheric folk evenings with traditional dancing and costumes, and traditional concerts in the square and village by traditional music bands. Particular highlights were the summer night concert on the castle hill and the ‘Musik auf den Almen’ (Music on the Alpine Pastures) series, where hikers could enjoy musical moments amid the mountainous backdrop.

Bauernherbst was launched in SalzburgerLand in 1995 to showcase rural customs, traditional crafts and regional cuisine. What began with just a few locations has developed over the last three decades into one of Austria's largest traditional festivals. Today, 76 municipalities take part, making Bauernherbst an experience that is known far beyond the region's borders. Typical elements such as markets with regional products, craft demonstrations, music, dance and, of course, the festive ‘Almabtrieb’ (cattle drive) have always been an integral part of the festival. This makes Bauernherbst not only a tourist highlight, but also a tribute to rural life – and a living symbol of how tradition is being carried on.

An atmospheric highlight is still to come in Wagrain-Kleinarl: the event weekend marking the end of the Harvest Festival week.

On the 19th of September, the Pumpkin Festival will celebrate the autumnal diversity of this crop. Whether spicy soups, hearty delicacies or sweet treats – there is something for every connoisseur here. The festival will be accompanied by music from Plankenauer Tanzlmusi, who will create a great atmosphere with their lively sounds. In the evening, visitors can also look forward to the traditional costume, sports and bridal fashion show in Wagrain, which is another highlight of the day with its charm and variety.

Finally, on the 20th September, the grand finale takes place: the annual cattle drive and harvest festival in the Wagrain market square. From 11.00 am, visitors can enjoy a colourful programme featuring rural crafts, regional delicacies and musical entertainment. At around 2.00 pm, the festive cattle drive with decorated cows will make its way down from the Griesbauern farm into the valley, accompanied by the Wagrain horse riders and whip crackers. This special event combines nature, agriculture and tradition in a unique way, making the Harvest Festival in Wagrain-Kleinarl an unforgettable experience for locals and visitors alike.

photo credits: Lukas Anzinger, Amanda Schmidt, Miriam Lottes, Wagrain-Kleinarl Tourismus