King Laurin Alpine Hut Festival / Schwaigenfest

The King Laurin Alpine Hut Festival in Nova Levante

The King Laurin Alpine Hut Festival, known in German as Schwaigenfest and also called Schupfenwanderung or "hut-to-hut hike," is one of the most beloved events in the Carezza hiking area, in the municipality of Nova Levante/Welschnofen, in the province of Bolzano (Trentino-Alto Adige). For over twenty years, every second Sunday of September, the associations of Nova Levante and Carezza have transformed the pastures at the foot of the Catinaccio (Rosengarten) into a small paradise for hikers and food lovers.

A journey between mountain huts

The concept of the festival is simple and charming: you hike from one alpine hut to another, the typical South Tyrolean schupfen—old barns that become refreshment points in summer, connected by easy trails. At each stop, you can taste specialties prepared by local associations. The route can be taken clockwise or counter-clockwise, at your own pace, immersed in the Dolomite landscape between the Catinaccio and Latemar massifs.

South Tyrolean gastronomy

The festival is a true showcase of South Tyrolean mountain cuisine. At the huts, you can enjoy dishes such as:

• Shepherd-style macaroni, dumplings (canederli), and polenta with sausages
• Goulash, speck, and alpine cheeses
• Weisswurst (white sausage), Leberkäse in a bun, and ribs with roasted potatoes
• Würstel with potato salad and roast pork
• The famous sweet apricot dumplings, Kaiserschmarrn, and homemade cakes

Music and atmosphere

Live music accompanies the tastings: past editions have featured groups like the Böhmische from Tires, the Haderkrainer, and the duo Denis Novato & Barbara, creating a festive and family-friendly atmosphere that engages visitors of all ages. The event is organized for charity by local associations—the Bauernjugend (farmers' youth), the Volunteer Fire Department of Nova Levante and Carezza, and the local football team.

A Val d'Ega tradition

The Alpine Hut Festival symbolically marks the end of the summer work season in the mountain pastures, when mountain farmers celebrate the harvest before winter arrives. It is an event deeply rooted in the identity of this corner of Trentino-Alto Adige, where farming culture, the German language, and Ladin and Italian traditions coexist at the foot of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites.