Updated 02.05.2022
The Gauder Fest 2022 concluded four days of festivities, traditions and competitions on Sunday. After the solemn mass in the deanery church of Zell am Ziller, Austria's largest traditional costume parade took place with around 2,200 traditional costumers, which ensured that Zell am Ziller shone in full colour for the finale of the Gauder Fest. Finally, the traditional costumers and visitors ended the festivities together in the Zillertal Beer Festival Tent and on the festival square.
Due to the uncertain weather situation, Sunday started with a mass in the deanery church of Zell am Ziller. However, the weather gods had mercy and so the traditional costume parade could take place without any problems and in dry weather - even if the route was somewhat shortened. Traditional costume associations from all over the Alpine region had come to Zell am Ziller to take part in the spectacle. During the grand parade, the traditional costume and customs groups presented an impressive picture to the onlookers. Thousands of visitors did the same to the colourful crowd and then found their way to the Zillertal Beer Festival tent and the festival square to let the Gauder Fest 2022 come to an atmospheric close.
Alpine costumes
Alpine traditions were already brought to the fore during the parade of the Jungtrachtler on the previous day. On Sunday, visitors were treated to another unique display of handmade traditional costumes from all regions of Tyrol and the entire Alpine region. The highlights on Sunday morning included lively dance performances along the parade route, historic Landsturm groups and many horse and ox teams - the "Miss Zillertal" was also among them. The final Zillertal block captivated the audience present especially with its density and uniform costume.
Organisers with a positive conclusion
Around 30,000 visitors over four days, a sold-out festival tent on Friday and Saturday with almost 5,000 guests each, around 90 associations and customs groups involved, 6,000 overnight stays in the region and 50,000 litres of Gauder Bock: for the organisers, the return of the Gauder Fest was a complete success. "We had a full house, people had fun and celebrated. We want to stay at this level in the future," Robert Pramstrahler, Mayor of Zell am Ziller, was pleased to say. Ferdinand Lechner jun., chairman of the Zell-Gerlos Tourism Association, was also satisfied with the course of events and glad that the Gauder Fest could take place again in 2022: "We were already in a very positive mood in the run-up to the event. And it then proved to be true: A lot of joy was spread and the atmosphere was great - I think that's the purpose of the festival and we succeeded well." Martin Lechner, managing director of Zillertal Bier, also echoed the positive conclusion: "As a family business in its 16th generation, it was important to us to organise a festival whose history goes back almost 600 years. The Gauder Fest 2022 went off very peacefully and people wanted to celebrate in company to take their minds off the difficult times of the last two years. And the Gauder Bock tasted extremely good again!" The 594-year history of the Gauder Fest has thus been enriched by another chapter. Next year, on the first weekend in May, it will once again be: "Treff ma ins am Gauder!"
The next Gauder Fest will take place from 4 May to 7 May 2023.
You can find more pictures on the press portal.