Verschneider Ritt and Fire Brigade Festival

The Verschneider Ritt and Fire Brigade Festival

The Verschneider Ritt is one of the most cherished traditional events in Verschneid, a small village in the municipality of Mölten, located on the sunny plateau overlooking the Bolzano basin in the autonomous province of South Tyrol. The event is organized by the Verschneid Volunteer Fire Brigade (Freiwillige Feuerwehr Verschneid) and combines an ancient equestrian tournament with a lively village festival, the Feuerwehrfest.

A traditional equestrian tournament

The heart of the festival is the horse competition, held at the Festplatz Schnappboden, the local festival grounds in Verschneid. Individual riders and teams test their skills in a series of traditional equestrian games:

• Ringstechen — ring jousting at a gallop with a lance, a signature discipline of these Alpine tournaments;
• Schinderstechen — a test of dexterity and aim on horseback;
• Slalom — an obstacle course that rewards horse control and speed.

The competitions, along with the final award ceremony and the raffle, attract riders, families, and enthusiasts from across the region every year, keeping a tradition deeply rooted in South Tyrolean farming and equestrian culture alive.

Two days of celebration

The event spans two days. Saturday is dedicated to training and the individual competition, which kicks off in the late afternoon, followed by evening entertainment in the marquee with music and a DJ. Sunday opens with a festive parade accompanied by the Musikkapelle Mölten, which travels from the village to the Festplatz Schnappboden. The competitions resume afterward, leading into the heart of the Feuerwehrfest, featuring traditional cuisine, drinks, and social gatherings. The day concludes with the award ceremony and the raffle draw.

A community celebration

Like many South Tyrolean fire brigade festivals, the Verschneider Ritt is much more than a sporting event: it is an occasion for the entire community of Verschneid and the municipality of Mölten to come together. Proceeds from the festival support the work of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, a cornerstone of village life. Visitors to the Mölten plateau during this time will experience an authentic atmosphere, blending equestrian tradition, brass band music, South Tyrolean gastronomy, and the warm hospitality of the mountain people.