Kinderadvent in Schlanders – Children's Christmas in Silandro

A child-friendly Advent in the heart of the Vinschgau Valley

Kinderadvent in Schlanders is one of the most beloved Christmas initiatives in the town of Silandro (Schlanders), located in the heart of the Vinschgau Valley (Val Venosta), in the province of Bolzano (South Tyrol). In the middle of the Advent season, the pedestrian zone of the Hauptstraße turns into a small, enchanted world designed entirely for children: a day—or rather, two full days—where the little ones are the true stars, accompanied by sweet Christmas melodies that enhance the festive atmosphere of the town.

Activities for children

The program is a series of simple, genuine experiences—the kind that stay in childhood memories. In the pedestrian area, young visitors can take part in numerous activities:

• Stockbrot: baking bread on a stick over an open fire, an timeless classic of South Tyrolean festivals;
• Creative workshop (Bastelwerkstatt) set up in the Basislokal, where children can make small Christmas decorations and crafts;
• Pony rides, one of the most anticipated moments for the children;
• Christmas cookie baking, to knead, decorate, and take home;
• Fairy-tale storytelling at the Damml, to get lost in the stories of the Advent season.

Everything is wrapped in the Christmas music that resonates along the street, creating that cozy, warm atmosphere typical of South Tyrolean mountain markets.

A weekend for the whole family

During the Kinderadvent, the shops in Silandro remain open both morning and afternoon: a perfect opportunity for Christmas shopping while the children have fun. The initiative is part of the broader Silandro Advent calendar, which also includes the charming Weihnachtsweg (Christmas Trail) and, in some editions, Christmas theatrical performances for children held at the cultural center.

Tradition and community

Organized by the Silandro-Lasa Tourist Board together with local merchants (Kaufleute Schlanders), Kinderadvent is a free event that reflects the community spirit of mountain villages: a simple, authentic, and shared Christmas, far from the large tourist crowds, where the tradition of the Alpine Advent meets the joy of the little ones. For Silandro, the capital of the Vinschgau Valley, it is also a way to enliven the historic center and add value to its beautiful pedestrian zone during the most magical time of the year.