Festive review: The Gauder Fest 2023

Updated 12.05.2023

Festivities, traditions and competitions - this is how the four days of the Gauder Fest 2023 can be summarised. Governor Anton Mattle opened the festivities for the first time, which had its first highlight with the humorous Gambrinus speech. The weekend was also marked by exciting competitions for the "Gauder Hogmoar" and colourful streets during Austria's largest spring and traditional costume festival.

Each day had its own special moments. Already on Thursday, the audience present was heated up musically during the Radio U1 Gauder Fest kick-off. On Friday, there were traditional programme items such as the beer tapping, the Gambrinus speech and the acceptance of new Gambrinus friends. Sports competitions, the election of "Miss Gauder" and "Mister Gauder" and the young dancers with their dance performances rounded off the Gauder Saturday. On the final day, more than 2,800 traditional costumes delighted the eyes of the visitors, 30,000 of whom were present over the four days.

Musical highlights on Thursday

On Thursday, Radio U1 Tirol presenter Lukas Brunner opened the Gauder Fest with top acts from the folk music and Schlager scene, including the Grubertaler, the young Zillertaler, Läts Fetz and Juhe aus Tirol. The musical highlights thrilled almost 2,000 visitors in the Zillertal Beer Festival Tent. Star guests of the evening were pop singer Melissa Naschenweng and the Nockis, who created an extraordinary atmosphere with their numerous hits.

Friday: Official opening with beer tapping and Gambrinus speech

The following day, Governor Anton Mattle tapped the beer at the Gauder Fest for the first time, officially opening the festivities. The humorous highlight followed in the form of the Gambrinus speech by cabaret artist Luis from South Tyrol, who didn't mince his words in his performance and made the political VIPs present, including Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer, sweat with his jokes. Also on the agenda was the admission of new Gambrinus Friends - an association whose 1,778 members put themselves at the service of a good cause. New members included State Secretary Florian Tursky, Minister of Agriculture Norbert Totschnig and Governor Anton Mattle.

Competitions on Gauder Saturday

Gauder Saturday was all about alpine traditions. More than 800 young dancers marched into the Zillertal Beer Festival Tent in the largest procession of its kind to date and enthralled the audience with their dance performances. Meanwhile, young and old gathered in the amusement park to watch the largest mountain goat show in Tyrol so far this year. The Bündner Strahlern goat "Heidi" owned by Simon Lamprecht from Uderns won the election for "Miss Gauder", while the Tauernschecken goat "Glitzer" owned by Matthias Kofler from Gerlos was crowned "Mister Gauder".

The sporting competition was not neglected either with the "Gauder Hogmoar". The hotly contested duels between the strongest men in the Alpine region captivated the spectators. In the end, Philip Holzer from Matrei in East Tyrol was able to outdo his competitors after exciting battles and secure the title. Lukas Mattersberger, also from Matrei in East Tyrol, came in second, narrowly beaten, and Hubert Illmer from St. Johann im Pongau came in third.

Sunday finale with Austria's biggest traditional costume parade

Sunday started with a field mass on the outskirts of Zell am Ziller, before the colourful traditional costume parade amazed the visitors. Around 2,800 traditional costumes transformed the streets of the market town of Zell am Ziller into a sea of colour. Handmade traditional costumes, lively dance performances and numerous horse and ox teams made the last day an unforgettable experience. For the organisers around Robert Pramstrahler (Mayor of Zell am Ziller), Ferdinand Lechner (Chairman of the Zell-Gerlos Tourism Association) and Martin Lechner (Managing Director of Zillertal Bier), the 595-year history of the Gauder Fest was successfully continued this year.

The next Gauder Fest will take place from 2 to 5 May 2024.