Musikfest Schalders – Musikkapelle Schalders

A village festival in the heart of the Eisacktal

The Musikfest Schalders is the most anticipated summer event in the small village of Schalders (Scaleres), a mountain locality belonging to the Municipality of Varna/Vahrn, in the heart of the Eisacktal (Val d'Isarco), in South Tyrol/Alto Adige. The festival takes place around Ferragosto and transforms the Festplatz Schalders—the large event area built in 2005 near Bad Schalders—into a meeting point for the entire local community and neighboring valleys.

The star of the show: Musikkapelle Schalders

The heart and soul of the event is the Musikkapelle Schalders, the village brass band founded in 1925. Under the direction of conductor Fabian Gottardi, the band offers a repertoire ranging from traditional Tyrolean marches and polkas to symphonic wind music and more modern pieces. Blasmusik (brass music) here is much more than entertainment: it is a core element of local identity that marks the rhythm of village life, from religious celebrations to community festivities.

The daily program

The festival day follows the traditional pattern of South Tyrolean brass band festivals. In the morning, the community gathers for the procession and the festive mass (Festmesse) accompanied by the band, followed by the Frühschoppen with a concert in the square. Throughout the day, the Festplatz hosts live music, social gatherings, and a food stand serving typical South Tyrolean specialties, from mountain cuisine dishes to grilled meats, accompanied by local beer and wines.

100 years of the band

In 2025, the Musikkapelle Schalders celebrated its 100th anniversary: a jubilee year marked by a special concert at Haus Voitsberg in Varna and an anniversary festival during the Ferragosto Musikfest, which drew brass music enthusiasts from far beyond the municipal borders.

An authentic South Tyrolean experience

Attending the Musikfest Schalders means experiencing the most authentic side of South Tyrol, the one found in mountain hamlets where the traditions of Blasmusik and village conviviality are still very much alive. Immersed in the alpine landscape of the Eisacktal, the festival is an ideal opportunity to discover South Tyrolean culture, its gastronomy, and the warmth of its people.