Höfina Kirschta / Traditional Festival in Corti

A village festival in the heart of the Puster Valley

The Höfina Kirschta, known in Italian as the Traditional Festival in Corti, is the patronal feast of the small hamlet of Corti (Hofern), part of the municipality of Chienes/Kiens, in the Puster Valley (Pustertal), in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano. Like all South Tyrolean Kirchtag celebrations, it is a festival with deep roots, tied to the life of the local community and its rural, alpine identity.

The event takes place on the Festplatz Hofern, the village square, and for an entire summer weekend, it transforms this quiet corner of the valley into a place of celebration, filled with music, dancing, and South Tyrolean cuisine. The event is carefully organized by the Freizeitverein Hofern, the local recreational association, with the support of the Chienes Tourist Board.

Kirschta Traditions

The most iconic moment is the raising of the Kirschta-Michl tree (the "Kirschta-Michlbam"), a ritual that officially opens the festival: a tall, decorated pole is raised in the square, only to be "raffled off" at the end of the festivities. It is a custom typical of Puster Valley village festivals, reflecting ancient rural traditions.

• Live music and dancing on both days, in the best tradition of South Tyrolean festivals;
• South Tyrolean culinary specialties, including Tirschtlan, freshly prepared fried pastries;
• Mountain Mass at the Grünbachjoch, organized by the Chienes Volunteer Fire Brigade;
• Games and activities for children hosted by the ZEK of Chienes;
• The raffle of the Kirschta-Michl tree, which brings the festival to a joyful close.

An authentic experience

The Höfina Kirschta is not a large tourist event, but a genuine community celebration: for this very reason, it offers a precious opportunity to experience the most authentic atmosphere of the Puster Valley, far from mass tourism circuits. Participants discover the folk traditions of South Tyrol, the warmth of the mountain people, and the authentic flavors of local cuisine, all set against a beautiful landscape of meadows and forests.