Herbstfest der Schützenkompanie Schenna — Schenna Autumn Festival

The Schenna Schützen Autumn Festival

The Herbstfest der Schützenkompanie Schenna is one of the most cherished traditional events in the municipality of Schenna, an enchanting village in South Tyrol nestled on the sunny slopes above Merano, in the province of Bolzano. Organized by the Schützenkompanie Erzherzog Johann, the festival draws locals and visitors to the heart of the village every mid-September to celebrate autumn according to the most authentic Tyrolean customs.

The Procession and Schützen Tradition

The highlight is the festive parade (Festumzug) winding through the village streets: beautifully decorated floats featuring the fruits and colors of the season, groups in traditional costumes (Tracht), and brass bands create a charming spectacle. The Schützen, the historic rifle companies of Tyrol, march in their traditional uniforms, upholding the memory of South Tyrolean identity, the protection of the homeland, and popular roots. Music fills the day as the village comes alive with sounds, colors, and scents.

The Start of the Törggelen

The Herbstfest symbolically marks the end of the grape harvest and the opening of the Törggelen season—the ancient South Tyrolean tradition whose name derives from the Latin torculum (wine press)—centered on tasting new wine. In the following weeks, Schenna fills with convivial gatherings, Frühschoppen with live music, and autumn menus in local farmhouses and restaurants, where guests can enjoy chestnuts, new wine, and typical South Tyrolean peasant specialties.

Gastronomy and Atmosphere

In Raiffeisen Square (Raiffeisenplatz), the heart of the festival, stalls offer typical South Tyrolean specialties: hearty peasant dishes, seasonal desserts, a good glass of local wine, and the first roasted chestnuts. The atmosphere is that of a genuine alpine village festival, where tradition, music, and conviviality blend into an authentic experience.

An Event in the Municipality of Schenna

Part of the Herbstgenuss in Schenna calendar, the municipality's rich autumn program, the Schützenkompanie's Herbstfest is the event that inaugurates the most evocative season of the year in the Merano region. For those visiting South Tyrol in autumn, it represents a unique opportunity to experience the folklore, hospitality, and popular traditions of this borderland, where German-speaking culture coexists with Italian heritage.