Almtanz Kalcheralm

Alpine dance festival at the Kalcheralm

The Almtanz Kalcheralm is one of the most evocative summer events in the Racines Valley (Ratschingstal), in the municipality of Racines, Bolzano province, in the heart of South Tyrol. The festival takes place at the Kalcheralm, a mountain hut located at 1,840 metres along the famous Ratschinger Almenweg, the trail connecting the valley's mountain huts.

Folk dancing and South Tyrolean tradition

The heart of the festival is Volkstanz, the traditional South Tyrolean folk dance performed by groups in authentic costumes. The event is promoted by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Volkstanz in Südtirol (the South Tyrolean folk dance association) in collaboration with the Volkstanzkreis Wipptal and the mountain hut itself. Dancers and enthusiasts gather on the alpine pasture to showcase the figures and rhythms of mountain farming culture in an authentic, identity-rich setting.

The day's programme

The day begins in the morning with a religious service held at the hut, following the custom of South Tyrolean alpine festivals. In the early afternoon, the Almtanz proper kicks off, featuring folk dances accompanied by live music. There is no shortage of mountain culinary specialties prepared by the hut, creating a convivial atmosphere that attracts families, hikers, and tradition lovers alike.

An event in the heart of the Racines mountain huts

The Almtanz Kalcheralm is held on the same day as the Ratschinger Almenfest, a major festival involving five mountain huts along the trail (Kalcheralm, Rinneralm, Wasserfaller Alm, Klammalm, and Summit Mountain Club). The Kalcheralm is one of the stops on this route, allowing participants to combine the dance event with a hike through the pastures, music, and South Tyrolean delicacies.

Why attend

• Traditional South Tyrolean folk dances in authentic costume
• Religious service at the mountain hut at 1,840 metres
• South Tyrolean mountain culinary specialties
• Alpine landscape of the Racines Valley and the mountain hut trail
• Authentic atmosphere suitable for families and hikers

A genuine event that tells the story of the alpine and farming soul of Racines and the entire Wipptal Valley, nestled in the mountains of Trentino-Alto Adige.