Kirchtag in Afing (Afinger Kirchtag)

The Afing Kirchtag, the heart of South Tyrolean tradition

The Kirchtag in Afing (in German Afinger Kirchtag) is the village festival of the small hamlet of Afing, nestled at an altitude of about 870 meters on a green terrace between the sunny San Genesio plateau and the entrance to the Val Sarentino. The event takes place in the municipality of San Genesio Atesino/Jenesien, in the province of Bolzano, in the Trentino-Alto Adige region.

The Kirchtag is the typical South Tyrolean patronal feast linked to the dedication of the church: here, the reference is the Church of St. Nicholas, a 15th-century late-Gothic building with a side tower, already mentioned in 1305 and expanded at the beginning of the 20th century. Every summer, the community of Afing gathers around this ancient church for two days of music, popular faith, and conviviality.

Brass bands take center stage

The soul of the festival is the Musikkapelle Afing, the local brass band that organizes and manages every edition. The Kirchtag is, above all, a celebration of bands: over the two days, numerous Musikkapellen from the surrounding area and alpine folk music ensembles (the inevitable Oberkrainer and böhmisch groups) take turns on stage, in a program that weaves together parades, open-air performances, and evening entertainment.

Alongside the band, a central role is played by the Afinger Jungdudler, the village's youth brass group, which is highly cherished by the community.

Parades, procession, and gastronomy

The Kirchtag weekend follows the classic structure of German South Tyrolean patronal festivals:

• Saturday is dedicated to the opening party, youth band parades, and concerts, closing with evening entertainment;
• Sunday morning opens with the procession and Holy Mass at the Church of St. Nicholas, followed by a grand parade and a long day of concerts until the traditional Kirchtag lottery draw.

There is no shortage of South Tyrolean gastronomy: in the Afing Festplatz, you can enjoy traditional dishes, local desserts, and typical festival specialties in a genuine and familiar atmosphere.

An identity-defining event of the Salten

The Afing Kirchtag is much more than just a festival: it is an identity-defining event for the inhabitants of the Salten plateau, an opportunity to strengthen community ties and introduce visitors to the folk culture, brass music, and traditions of the South Tyrolean mountains, just a few kilometers from Bolzano but in an authentic and secluded setting.