Sauderer Kirchtig / Sauders Festival

A rural festival in the heart of the Eisacktal

The Sauderer Kirchtig (also known as the Sauders Festival) is one of the most cherished autumn festivals in the municipality of Villanders, in the Province of Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige. It takes place in the small hamlet of Sauders, a cluster of farmsteads nestled on the sunny slopes above the village in the Eisacktal valley. For over twenty years, this event has drawn local farmers, hikers, and enthusiasts of South Tyrolean traditions.

The official opening of the Törggelen season

The Sauderer Kirchtig holds a special place in the South Tyrolean farming calendar: it marks the official opening of the Törggelen season, an ancient autumn custom that pairs new wine with roasted chestnuts and hearty farm-style cuisine. For the first time each year, the Winklerhof in Sauders serves traditional Törggelen dishes, launching a culinary tradition that continues throughout the season until December.

Music, dance, and folk traditions

The heart of the event is the Volkstanzgruppe Villanders, the local folk dance group that organizes the festival and brings it to life with traditional Tyrolean music and costumed performances. On the large outdoor stage, brass bands from neighboring valleys take turns performing, while dance groups showcase classic Volkstänze and the Plattler, the traditional percussive folk dances of South Tyrol.

The flavors of Törggelen

Gastronomy is the highlight of the event. At the Winklerhof, visitors can sample traditional specialties: homemade whole-grain bread with potatoes, barley soup, pumpkin cream soup, Schlutzkrapfen, dumplings, Blattlen with sauerkraut, roasts, and platters of local cold cuts. To finish, there are the essential roasted chestnuts, Villanders krapfen, and new wine, known in the local dialect as Sußer, produced right at the farm.

A day for the whole family

• Morning Holy Mass in the small church of Sauders
• Indoor festival area at the Winklerhof, open in any weather
• Live music and folk dancing
• Play area and trampoline for children
• Raffle and social gatherings with local farmers

The Sauderer Kirchtig is an authentic opportunity to discover the rural culture of the Eisacktal away from the main tourist crowds, amidst the colors of the South Tyrolean autumn and the hospitality of the farming families of Villanders.