Traditional Association Parade of Selva Val Gardena

The Ferragosto parade in the heart of the Dolomites

The Traditional Association Parade of Selva Val Gardena is the most anticipated event in the summer calendar of Selva di Val Gardena/Wolkenstein in Gröden, a municipality in the province of Bolzano in Trentino-Alto Adige. Every year, on Ferragosto (August 15th), local associations parade in traditional costumes along the main streets of the town, offering a spectacle rich in color, tradition, and creativity at the foot of the Gardena Dolomites.

The route and the parade

The parade begins in the afternoon and winds through the town center, passing along Via Nives and Via Meisules before concluding in Piazza del Municipio. Local groups and associations march alongside their floats, accompanied by brass bands and folk dance groups. Participants wear the valley's typical costumes and perform traditional dances and music.

Traditional Ladin costumes

Gardena costumes represent one of the richest cultural expressions in the Alps: every element holds a precise social meaning. Married men wear black capes and belts adorned with peacock feathers, while young people are distinguished by different attire; women's hats vary according to their marital status. As they say in the valley, these are living signs of a culture that has never stopped telling its own story.

A full day of celebration

The parade is the centerpiece of the wider Ferragosto Festival, a day that combines costume parades, brass band concerts, folk entertainment, and fine local cuisine. Brass bands animate the village from morning until evening, while folk dance groups and live music take the stage in Piazza del Municipio.

Ladin tradition and community identity

In Selva, tradition is never just museum folklore, but a lived identity and a communication of the present. The parade is a moment when the entire Ladin community gathers to celebrate its cultural heritage in one of the most evocative settings in the Dolomites. For visitors, it is a unique opportunity to discover the customs, costumes, and spirit of Val Gardena firsthand.