Musikfest of the Nals Civic Band

The Musikfest of the Nals Civic Band

The Musikfest der Bürgerkapelle Nals is the music festival that brings the village of Nalles/Nals, in the province of Bolzano, together every summer in the heart of the South Tyrolean Adige Valley. Organized by the Bürgerkapelle Nals, the town's historic civic band, the event traditionally takes place on the last weekend of July at the Festplatz, the municipal festival grounds along Schwimmbadstraße. It is one of the most cherished events in the Nals summer calendar, deeply rooted in the culture of Blasmusik—the brass band music that serves as a true pillar of identity for South Tyrolean village communities.

Two days of music and conviviality

The festival spans two days. Saturday's festivities begin at 6:00 PM, featuring brass band concerts, entertainment music, and an open-air dinner; Sunday starts at 11:00 AM with an aperitif and lunch, followed by an afternoon of music. Under the marquee and under the stars, the local Bürgerkapelle and guest bands from neighboring villages take turns performing in a festive atmosphere open to families, groups of friends, and tourists.

The Bürgerkapelle Nals

The Nals Civic Band currently counts about fifty active musicians—men and women who play together out of passion, committing to about a hundred days a year including rehearsals, concerts, religious celebrations, and local events. Since 2022, musical direction has been entrusted to Kapellmeister Michael Seebacher, while the association's presidency is led by Andreas Knoll. The band also maintains a historic twinning with the Stadtkapelle Weißenhorn in Bavaria, signed in 1970. The Musikfest is the moment when this association opens its doors to the entire community.

Flavors of South Tyrol

As with any South Tyrolean village festival, gastronomy takes center stage: the festival kitchen serves typical South Tyrolean dishes, from Würstel to grilled meats, dumplings, and strauben, all accompanied by fresh draft beer and local wines. Nals is, in fact, the northernmost village on the South Tyrolean Wine Road and is nestled among orchards, vineyards, and the roses that earned it the nickname "village of roses."

Nals, between Bolzano and Merano

Located at an altitude of about 320 meters in the Adige Valley, halfway between Bolzano and Merano, the municipality of Nals is part of the Meraner Land region. Its mild climate and sandy soils along the Adige River make the village famous for its apples, grapes, and prized asparagus. Attending the Bürgerkapelle's Musikfest means experiencing an authentic Trentino-South Tyrol festival, far from the major tourist flows and close to the true soul of South Tyrolean communities.