Kirchtag in Oberolang (Valdaora di Sopra Patronal Festival)

The Valdaora di Sopra Festival

The Kirchtag in Oberolang is the patronal festival of the village of Valdaora di Sopra, one of the four settlements that make up the municipality of Valdaora (Olang), in the Puster Valley, in the province of Bolzano (South Tyrol). Since Valdaora is composed of four districts—Valdaora di Sotto, Valdaora di Mezzo, Valdaora di Sopra, and Sorafurcia—and each has its own church, the Kirchtag is celebrated four times a year, each time dedicated to the patron saint of the local church. The one in Valdaora di Sopra is traditionally held on the first weekend of October.

The Church of Saints Peter and Agnes

The heart of the festival is the parish church of Saints Peter and Agnes in Oberolang, a late-Gothic building that overlooks the small village of Valdaora di Sopra. The religious and community moments of the festival are concentrated around the church: the solemn mass, the procession through the village streets, and the musical accompaniment of local brass bands.

Tradition, Music, and Community

The South Tyrolean Kirchtag is much more than a simple religious observance: it is a true community celebration where living traditions intertwine with conviviality. The typical program includes a solemn mass, the traditional procession, and performances by the Olangner Musikkapellen, the brass bands of Valdaora, including the historic village band. On the first weekend of October, the festival is often linked to the harvest thanksgiving (Erntedank), a time when the community gives thanks for the gifts of nature at the end of the agricultural season.

Cuisine and Autumn Atmosphere

• South Tyrolean culinary specialties served by local groups and associations
• Live music from local bands and choirs
• Autumnal atmosphere among the meadows and woods of the Puster Valley, at the foot of the Plan de Corones ski area
• A meeting point for residents of the Valdaora districts and visitors alike

Where it takes place

The festival brings the center of Valdaora di Sopra/Oberolang to life, a district of the municipality of Valdaora, in the province of Bolzano. The location is easily accessible from the Puster Valley and is an excellent starting point for discovering the authentic traditions of South Tyrol away from the major tourist circuits.