Kirchtag in Geiselsberg (Sorafurcia Village Festival)

The Kirchtag in Geiselsberg: The Village Festival of Sorafurcia

Within the landscape of traditional Puster Valley celebrations, the Kirchtag in Geiselsberg holds a special place. In South Tyrolean German, 'Kirchtag' refers to the festival marking the consecration of the local parish church: it is both a religious and a community celebration, representing one of the most cherished moments of the year for this small mountain hamlet. Geiselsberg, known in Italian as Sorafurcia, is a hamlet within the municipality of Valdaora/Olang, in the province of Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige. It sits on a sunny, panoramic terrace overlooking the Puster Valley, at the foot of the Plan de Corones/Kronplatz ski area.

A Tradition Linked to Saint Wolfgang

The parish church of Geiselsberg is dedicated to Saint Wolfgang (St. Wolfgang) and was consecrated in 1484. A captivating local legend tells of a farmer from the Arndt farm who, after being attacked by a bear at the Furcia Pass, prayed to Saint Wolfgang and vowed to build a church on the site where his small wooden chapel stood. This is the origin of the sacred building around which the community's identity still revolves today. In 1489, Simon von Taisten painted the famous fresco of Saint Christopher on the church's northeastern corner. The Kirchtag is deeply rooted in this devotion, intertwining faith, history, and local heritage.

Music, Gastronomy, and Conviviality

Today, the Kirchtag is above all a joyful village festival for the whole family. Organized with dedication by the Volunteer Fire Brigade of Geiselsberg (Freiwillige Feuerwehr), the event brings the center of the hamlet to life with musical entertainment, a great atmosphere, and the essential specialties of South Tyrolean cuisine: traditional dishes, homemade desserts, beer, and local wines. In these festivals around Olang, music is a central feature, with brass bands and local groups accompanying the celebrations in a cheerful spirit that unites locals and tourists vacationing in the Puster Valley.

Where and When

The Kirchtag takes place on the weekend around mid-August, following a custom that places the festival on the weekend before or after August 15th. The meeting point is the village center of Geiselsberg/Sorafurcia, easily reachable from Valdaora and nearby Puster Valley locations. It is an authentic opportunity to discover the genuine spirit of a small South Tyrolean mountain village, far from large-scale events but rich in human warmth and tradition.