Prader Almfest (Prad Volunteer Fire Brigade)

A mountain pasture festival in the Stelvio National Park

The Prader Almfest is the summer celebration that the Volunteer Fire Brigade (Freiwillige Feuerwehr) of Prad am Stilfserjoch organizes every year at the Prader Alm, a mountain hut situated on a vast plateau of pastures at over 2,000 meters above sea level, in the heart of the Stelvio National Park. We are in the Upper Vinschgau Valley, at the foot of the Ortler massif, in one of the most picturesque corners of the province of Bolzano.

Music, gastronomy, and the prize wheel

For an entire day, the mountain pasture transforms into a lively gathering spot: live music, the traditional Glückstopf (a prize wheel with raffles), hot dishes, and South Tyrolean specialties, along with beer and drinks. As the organizers' invitation suggests, everything is perfectly prepared for eating and drinking. It is a simple and convivial festival, in the spirit of South Tyrolean village fairs, where friends, families, and hikers meet outdoors after the climb to the pasture.

Accessible only on foot: a reward for hikers

The Prader Alm can only be reached on foot, which is part of its charm. There are two main routes: a comfortable 20-minute walk from the Furkelhütte (Forcola refuge), the top station of the Trafoi chairlift, or a more challenging 2-hour hike from the Fragges parking lot, near the game enclosure above Stelvio/Stilfs. Parking spaces at the pasture are limited, so it is best to arrive on foot, enjoying the pastures and the panoramic views of the Ortler peaks.

A tradition of the Municipality of Prad am Stilfserjoch

The Prader Almfest is one of the most cherished summer events in the Municipality of Prad am Stilfserjoch, one of the ten municipalities that make up the South Tyrolean side of the Stelvio National Park. Organized through the voluntary commitment of local firefighters, it combines the social role of the Fire Brigade with the community life of a mountain village, set in a natural environment of great ecological value.

The dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been announced: the festival is traditionally held in August. Those wishing to attend can follow the channels of the Municipality and the Prad Fire Brigade, as well as the Vinschgau Valley tourism portals, to find out the exact date as soon as it is communicated.