Musikfest in Mühlwald

The Musikfest of the Musikkapelle Mühlwald

The Musikfest in Mühlwald is the summer event where the Musikkapelle Mühlwald opens its village doors to fellow bands, music lovers, and tourists. It takes place at the Musikpavillon of the Festgelände in Selva dei Molini/Mühlwald, a small mountain municipality in Trentino-Alto Adige nestled at over 1,200 meters in the valley of the same name, a side valley of the Tures and Aurina Valleys (Tauferer Ahrntal) in the province of Bolzano. It is one of those traditional brass band festivals (Musikfest) that define summer in South Tyrol: a community ritual where folk music, tradition, and good food blend together for a full day in the open air.

A day of brass band music from morning to night

The program follows the classic structure of South Tyrolean band festivals. The morning begins with Holy Mass at 10:00 AM, celebrated outdoors and accompanied by the band's notes, followed by a short concert by the Jugendkapelle Mühlwald/Lappach, the youth band that brings together young musicians from Selva dei Molini and the hamlet of Lappago (Lappach). It is the moment when the village passes the torch of a tradition handed down from generation to generation to its youngest members.

Throughout the day, guest bands from neighboring villages take turns on stage, making the Musikfest a true meeting point for communities in the Puster Valley and surrounding areas. The afternoon continues with rotating concerts, concluding in the evening with dance entertainment that ends the festival on a high note.

Stalls, raffles, and family fun

The most convivial part of the festival unfolds around the music pavilion. The food stalls offer the flavors of South Tyrolean cuisine, from grilled specialties to traditional desserts, accompanied by beer and beverages. The charity raffle (Glückstopf) for adults and activities designed for children, such as the bouncy castle, are major attractions, making the Musikfest an event suitable for the whole family. The atmosphere is that of a genuine mountain village festival, where people gather to listen to good folk music and spend time together.

Selva dei Molini and the South Tyrolean band tradition

In Selva dei Molini/Mühlwald, as in all South Tyrolean villages, the brass band is a pillar of community life: it accompanies processions, religious anniversaries, and popular festivals throughout the year. The summer Musikfest is the moment when the Musikkapelle Mühlwald acts as an ambassador for its territory, set among the peaks of the Zillertal Alps, and invites guests and visitors to discover the hospitality of this authentic corner of the Aurina Valley.