Krampus- und Perchtentreffen Sexten

The largest Krampus gathering in South Tyrol

In the heart of the Sesto Dolomites, at the foot of the famous Three Peaks, the village of Sesto/Sexten (Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige) hosts one of the most anticipated and spectacular winter events in South Tyrol every December: the Krampus- und Perchtentreffen, the parade of the Krampus and Percht. Considered the largest Krampus gathering in the entire region, the event attracts thousands of spectators to the small Alta Pusteria town.

Who are the Krampus and Percht?

The Krampus is a figure deeply rooted in Alpine and South Tyrolean tradition: a demonic creature with monstrous features, horns, fur, cowbells, and hand-carved wooden masks. They accompany Saint Nicholas on the night of December 5th and 6th to symbolically punish the naughty, while the saint rewards the good. Alongside the Krampus, the Percht figures parade, linked to the cycle of the seasons and the transition into winter. In Sesto, these masks are not a mere tourist spectacle, but an expression of an authentic Brauchtum (custom), preserved and passed down by the local community.

Bergtoifl Sexten, guardians of tradition

The event is organized by the Bergtoifl Sexten group, founded in 2004 with the goal of keeping the Krampuslauf tradition alive and vibrant in their village. The association, which brings together about thirty members including Krampus and witches, has grown the event into the premier gathering in the area. Each year, the rally brings together numerous Krampus groups from South Tyrol, neighboring Tyrol, and Austria.

How the parade unfolds

On the evening of the event, approximately 600 Krampus, Toifl, and Percht invade the center of Sesto. As darkness falls, the parade begins: the masked figures walk through the village streets amidst the deep sound of cowbells, the lighting of torches, and spectacular fire shows that make the atmosphere both eerie and fascinating. The public watches the procession along the route, while the Krampus approach spectators in a display of fear and fun typical of this Alpine custom.

The biggest Krampus party in South Tyrol

When the parade ends, the celebration doesn't stop: the evening continues with what the organizers call the biggest Krampus party in South Tyrol, animated by regional DJs. It is the moment when the tension of the parade dissolves into music and conviviality, shared by locals and visitors who have arrived from all over the province.

An event in the Dolomite Advent calendar

The Krampus- und Perchtentreffen is part of the rich Advent calendar of the Three Peaks Dolomites area and represents a unique opportunity to discover one of the oldest and most distinctive folk traditions of the Alpine region in a suggestive, snow-covered mountain setting. An event that combines folklore, spectacle, and a sense of community in the heart of Alta Pusteria.