Kirchtagsfest of the "Graf Volkmar" Schützen Company in Burgstall

A Schützen tradition in the Burggrafenamt

The Kirchtagsfest der Schützenkompanie "Graf Volkmar" is the Kirchtag, or patronal festival, of the municipality of Burgstall, a small village in the Burggrafenamt located along the Adige River, just a few kilometers from Merano in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano/South Tyrol, Trentino-Alto Adige. The event is organized by the Schützenkompanie "Graf Volkmar von Burgstall", the historic rifle company named after the local medieval lord, which was re-established in 1980.

The festival is tied to the Fest "Zur Kreuzerhöhung", the Solemnity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14. Since 1983, the Schützen have officially participated in this anniversary, and since then, they have organized the village's patronal festival every year immediately following the solemn mass. It is a tradition that inextricably weaves together the religious, civic, and community dimensions of German-speaking South Tyrol.

The day: from solemn mass to the forest festival

The celebration follows a well-established ritual that involves the entire village. In the early morning, musicians, flag bearers, and riflemen gather at the kindergarten before marching in a procession to the parish church, where a solemn mass is celebrated. After the service, the traditional Burgstaller Goaßlschnöller (whip-cracking masters) perform on the church square, accompanied by a folk dance group in traditional costume.

The procession then reaches the Waldfestplatz, the characteristic forest festival square along the Kirchweg, where the more convivial part of the day begins around noon. Here, the public can enjoy a concert by the Musikkapelle Burgstall, the local brass band, and entertainment music from South Tyrolean folk groups.

Gastronomy and atmosphere

Like every South Tyrolean Kirchtag, the festival in Burgstall is an occasion for culinary celebration and a meeting point for the entire community. Stalls are set up at the Waldfestplatz offering grilled dishes, homemade desserts, coffee, and typical South Tyrolean peasant cuisine in a familiar, open-air atmosphere. The forest festival attracts not only the residents of Burgstall but also visitors from neighboring villages in the Burggrafenamt and tourists vacationing in the Merano area.

• Where: Waldfestplatz, along the Kirchweg in Burgstall
• When: The Sunday closest to September 14 (Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
• Organizer: Schützenkompanie "Graf Volkmar von Burgstall"
• Program: Procession, solemn mass, folk performances, brass band concert, festival with culinary specialties

The Burgstall Kirchtag represents one of the events that best captures the identity of rural South Tyrol, where Schützen companies preserve language, costumes, and folk traditions, passing them down from generation to generation.