Maria della Neve Festival / Mariä Schnee Fest

A village festival in the heart of the Oltradige

The Maria della Neve Festival, known in German as Mariä Schnee Fest, is one of the many association-led events that punctuate the summer in Appiano sulla strada del vino (Eppan an der Weinstraße), a wine-growing municipality in the Oltradige region of the province of Bolzano, in the heart of Trentino-Alto Adige. It takes place in the small village of Gand/Gaid and takes its name from the feast of Our Lady of the Snows, traditionally celebrated on August 5th, the day the festival is held.

Conviviality and community support

The event is organized by the local initiative supporting the Gand children's playground (Kinderspielplatz Gand), gathered under the Maria SS. della Neve Festival Committee: it is therefore a festival with a strong community spirit, with proceeds supporting local village life. It is an evening event designed to spend a pleasant summer night together, as the organizers' invitation suggests, in the informal and family-friendly setting typical of South Tyrolean village festivals.

What to expect

The festival takes place outdoors in the Gand area and offers local gastronomic specialties and moments of conviviality in a relaxed atmosphere. It is an event that fits into the busy calendar of summer festivals in Appiano, alongside those of local brass bands, fire brigades, and community associations, representing an authentic opportunity to discover the traditions of the German-speaking community of the Oltradige.

• Municipality: Appiano sulla strada del vino / Eppan an der Weinstraße
• Village: Gand / Gaid
• Province: Bolzano (Alto Adige – South Tyrol)
• When: August 5th, from late afternoon until night
• Character: Religious and social festival for charity