Saint Mary Magdalene Festival

The patronal feast of Vadena/Pfatten

The Saint Mary Magdalene Festival is the most cherished traditional event in Vadena/Pfatten, a bilingual municipality in the province of Bolzano, nestled in the Adige Valley along the famous South Tyrol Wine Road (Südtiroler Weinstraße). Known in German as Hl. Maria Magdalena-Fest or Magdalena Kirchtag, the festival celebrates the patron saint to whom the town's parish church is dedicated.

The Kirchtag and South Tyrolean traditions

True to the tradition of South Tyrolean Kirchtags, the patronal feast is much more than a religious observance: it is a moment for the entire community to come together. In Vadena, the organization is handled by the Volunteer Firefighters of Pfatten (Freiwillige Feuerwehr Pfatten), who host guests at their fire station hall every year. While the liturgical feast of Saint Mary Magdalene falls on July 22nd, the village celebration is traditionally held on the nearest weekend.

Music, gastronomy, and conviviality

The evening features live music, food and drinks (Speis und Trank), and a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere that encourages visitors to stay late. It is the perfect opportunity to experience the hospitality of a small South Tyrolean village, surrounded by the vineyards and orchards that define this stretch of the Adige Valley.

The Parish Church of Saint Mary Magdalene

The spiritual heart of the festival is the Parish Church of Saint Mary Magdalene. The building has medieval origins: the original chapel dates back to 1304 and was once part of a local fortification. In 1797, it was expanded into a church with the addition of a tower, and in 1804, it was dedicated to Saint Magdalene. To this day, Sunday mass is celebrated at 10:15 AM in both German and Italian, reflecting the bilingualism that characterizes this corner of South Tyrol.

Vadena/Pfatten: Vineyards and the Wine Road

Located in the Trentino-Alto Adige region, the municipality of Vadena/Pfatten offers visitors an authentic immersion into South Tyrolean culture: the Wine Road, scenic hiking trails, views of the Leuchtenburg castle, and proximity to Bolzano, Laives, and Bronzolo. The Saint Mary Magdalene Festival is the perfect occasion to experience local traditions firsthand.