ApfelFesta / Apple Festival

ApfelFesta: Bolzano's tribute to the South Tyrolean apple

Every two years, the historic center of Bolzano, the capital of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano in Trentino-South Tyrol, dresses up to celebrate the fruit that defines this land more than any other: the South Tyrolean apple. The ApfelFesta, or Apple Festival, transforms Piazza Walther and the surrounding streets into a large open-air market dedicated to taste, farming traditions, and conviviality.

A biennial event linked to Interpoma

The first edition of ApfelFesta was held in October 2022, followed by a second in November 2024. The event is biennial and takes place concurrently with Interpoma, the world's only trade fair entirely dedicated to the apple, hosted at the Bolzano Exhibition Center. While industry professionals meet at the fair, the city offers the general public a festive occasion: two sides of the same tribute to a fruit that involves thousands of farming families in South Tyrol.

The heart of the festival: stalls, tastings, and local products

The program revolves around numerous exhibition, gastronomic, and information stalls, where visitors can discover the various South Tyrolean apple varieties and their derivatives. Offerings include juices, cider, chutney, strudel, and other specialties that showcase the creativity of local cuisine. Tastings allow visitors to experience the aromas and flavors of an excellent product, cultivated by over 6,000 fruit-growing families.

• Tastings of apples and derivatives (juices, cider, chutney, pastries)
• Information stalls on the region and apple cultivation
• Direct sales of local South Tyrolean products
• Live music in the heart of the city

Music and activities for children

The atmosphere at ApfelFesta is enlivened by a rich program of live music, with concerts and entertainment throughout the festival days. An area is dedicated to children and families, featuring shows, storytelling about the world of apples, games, and craft workshops led by South Tyrolean farmers. It is a wonderful way to introduce younger generations to the region's rural culture.

A free event in the heart of the Bolzano autumn

ApfelFesta is organized by the Bolzano Tourist Board in collaboration with the South Tyrol Apple Consortium, under the patronage of the Municipality of Bolzano. Admission is free, and the event takes place in autumn, the harvest season, when the orchards of the Bolzano basin and surrounding valleys bear their fruit. Strolling through the stalls of Piazza Walther, with the Dolomites and the Gothic Cathedral as a backdrop, is an experience that combines taste, landscape, and South Tyrolean identity.