Fest der Bürgerkapelle St. Michael

The St. Michael Civic Band Festival

The Fest der Bürgerkapelle St. Michael is the summer festival organized by the St. Michael Civic Band (in German Bürgerkapelle St. Michael) in the village of St. Michael, the main hub of the municipality of Eppan an der Weinstraße, in the province of Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige. Every year in mid-August, the St. Michael Festplatz transforms into the vibrant heart of village life for a full weekend of music, food, and community.

A musical tradition spanning over a century

The Bürgerkapelle St. Michael is one of the most deeply rooted cultural institutions in the Oltradige area. Founded in 1898, it currently brings together about 55 active musicians, accompanied by traditional Marketenderinnen (costumed beverage servers). Under the leadership of conductor Patrick Gruber and president Alex Pircher, the band maintains a broad and varied repertoire: from traditional South Tyrolean marches to modern brass music and major concert pieces. The summer festival is, alongside their regular concerts and band events, the moment this shared passion is opened up to the entire community.

Two days of music and conviviality

The festival spans an entire weekend. Saturday evening kicks off the festivities with musical entertainment that continues late into the night, featuring guest bands and dance groups alternating on stage. Sunday is dedicated to the traditional Frühschoppen, the morning concert-aperitif that is an unmissable classic of South Tyrolean band festivals, followed by a program that keeps the Festplatz lively until evening.

• Concerts by guest bands and dance music
• The traditional Sunday morning Frühschoppen
• Wide range of culinary offerings with South Tyrolean specialties, Oltradige wines, and beer
• Family-friendly, local atmosphere for all ages

Eppan, in the heart of the Wine Road

Eppan an der Weinstraße is one of the most renowned wine-growing municipalities in South Tyrol, nestled among the vineyards of the Oltradige between Bolzano and Lake Caldaro. The Bürgerkapelle festival is the perfect opportunity to discover the hospitality of this bilingual region, where Tyrolean band culture and local food and wine production have coexisted for generations. An authentic event, far from the major tourist circuits, that tells the story of an Alpine community's identity.