Flaaser Kirchtag

A village festival in the heart of the Tschögglberg

The Flaaser Kirchtag is the traditional festival of the small village of Flaas/Valas, nestled at over 1,300 meters above sea level on the Tschögglberg plateau, in the municipality of San Genesio Atesino/Jenesien, in the province of Bolzano (Trentino-Alto Adige). For over thirty years, it has been considered one of the largest and most cherished events on the entire plateau, attracting local farm residents, hikers, and visitors from the Bolzano basin.

History and tradition

The event is rooted in the popular devotion of the Kirchtag, the patronal feast that for centuries has combined religious, communal, and social dimensions in the German-speaking towns of South Tyrol. The Flaaser Kirchtag in its current form has been celebrated since 1991 and is organized by the Musikkapelle Flaas, the local brass band founded in 1941 by nine farmers, which still accompanies the community's processions, services, and parades today.

The festival program

The festival spans three days on the large Schermooswiese meadow, set up with a marquee:

• Friday evening: the Warm Up Party, which kicks off the weekend with dance music and a youth night under the marquee.
• Saturday evening: the highlight of the event, featuring live music, dancing, and DJ sets that keep the meadow lively until late at night.
• Sunday: the most solemn day, featuring an open-air mass celebrated on the festival meadow in the morning, followed in the afternoon by concerts from the Tschögglberg brass bands and the grand raffle that concludes the festivities.

Gastronomy and atmosphere

As with every South Tyrolean Kirchtag, good food takes center stage: typical mountain cuisine specialties, traditional desserts, beer, and local wine accompany the festive days in a genuine and familiar atmosphere. The alpine setting of the Tschögglberg, with its farmsteads and views of the Dolomites, makes the Flaaser Kirchtag an ideal opportunity to discover an authentic corner of South Tyrol far from the more crowded tourist destinations.

How to experience the festival

Admission to the evening events and Sunday festivities is free, and the event is designed for all ages: from families to groups of friends, from residents to passing guests. It is a chance to experience the South Tyrolean brass band tradition and the warm hospitality of the Flaas community up close.