Handicraft Festival Seefeld 2023

Updated 29.08.2023

Real handicrafts up close, historic tractors and traditional costumes as well as lots of musical entertainment and local culinary delights - that's what the Seefeld Handicrafts Festival on 9 and 10 September 2023 promises

Since 1997, the Seefeld region has been inviting visitors to its big crafts festival on the 2nd weekend in September. For two days, the focus is on the craftspeople and their traditional crafts. In the Seefeld pedestrian zone, they show at first hand how crafts have been kept alive and cultivated in Tyrol and its neighbouring regions for centuries. Genuine folk music, a farmers' market offering regional and market-produced goods, as well as the historic tractor parade and the traditional costume parade round off the festival weekend. As every year, thousands of visitors from near and far are expected in 2023. Many of them have been coming for years to what is probably the most interesting and authentic event on Tyrol's high plateau.

Over 1,500 participants - craftsmen, musicians, choirs, traditional costume associations and tractor drivers - put their heart and soul into the festival every year. They come from all parts of Tyrol as well as from the neighbouring regions of Salzburg, Carinthia, Vorarlberg and Bavaria to the high plateau and show their handicraft skills at over 100 stalls.In handicraft and from handicraft we liveThehandicraft presented often goes back to a centuries-old tradition, but has not lost any of its relevance today. After all, many products still end up on our supermarket shelves and in our households today. For example, there is the well-known Ichthyol Zugsalbe, which is still produced in a traditional process from Seefeld slate oil. The noble distillates of the Steinlechner schnapps distillery from the Pichlerhof in Gnadenwald are also popular with locals and guests alike. Friedl Steinlechner, who started making the distillates in 1979 on an old distillery, has been coming to Seefeld every year since the first craft festival in 1997. "We've always been there, whether it was raining or snowing or the sun was laughing from the sky. It's just a super thing." Friedl also experienced the change in organisation from the Seefeld merchants' association to the tourism association and admits to having been worried about his favourite date of the year in the beginning. "But it went on perfectly and it's a real pleasure to be here again this year

Rare professions show their artsJustlike the Ichthyolwerk and Steinlechner, many professions that have become rare today are also represented in the Seefeld pedestrian zone. Among others: Basket weavers, carpenters, violin makers, hat makers, (gold) smiths, coopers, potters, fabric printers, goldsmiths, sculptors, knife and cutlery makers, quill embroiderers, glass blowers, engravers - to list just a few of the dozens of occupational groups.

Not extremely rare, but unique in its craftsmanship, is the Seefeld art smithy, which has also been an integral part of the crafts festival since the early years. "Our former boss Gerhard Neuner started it, and we proudly continue it," says Wolfgang Unterwurzacher, who has been running the Metallprofi Untwolf company since Neuner's well-deserved retirement. The artisan locksmiths have always come to the crafts festival with the same team of four, consisting of Neuner's former apprentices, Unterwurzacher, Manuel Neuner Martin Thaler and Daniel Reinpold, all of whom are now masters of their trade. Every year they also come up with a special project for the craft festival - works for the local fountain, the roundabout, the Reither coat of arms and much more have been created here. We really enjoy it and the amazement in their eyes when we turn a piece of iron into a work of art confirms to us that we have chosen the right profession" For Unterwurzacher, however, the craft festival is not only an opportunity to showcase his craft, but also a meeting with the other craftsmen who have become friends over the years, and an inspiration for the next generation. "Since we have children of our own, the festival has a different significance - we can make sure that old values are not forgotten and inspire children for crafts."

The supporting programme is humming and rockingTo inspire youngand old, the crafts festival also succeeds with its supporting programme: On the one hand, there are the countless folk music groups that create a great atmosphere in the entire pedestrian zone. Among them are many familiar faces, such as the Simmerinka brass band or the Michl Trio, but also some who are taking part for the first time this year. On the other hand, as every year, there are the two highlights - the tractor parade on Saturday and the traditional costume parade on Sunday.

With the historic tractors, it can get really loud and a bit smelly. But when the tractors, some of which date back to 1939, chug through the pedestrian zone at 1 pm on Saturday, everyone, especially the little ones, wants to be in the front row. The historical implements carried along are too interesting, such as the impressive first mower bar from the Seefeld plateau, the stand-mounted motor-driven grain mill, the forked hay tedders or potato harvesters.

The traditional costume parade on Sunday is a little quieter, although here too four bands will loudly set the pace for the 800 participants from North and South Tyrol at 1 pm. The music will be accompanied by a proud display of handmade old and new traditional costumes. Afterwards, the traditional costume associations will spread out in the centre of the village and perform a dance or two.

Specialities from grandmother's kitchenWithso many interesting things to see and hear, a cosy break is of course a must. The farmer's market and the restaurants in the vicinity offer plenty of opportunities for a break. As is traditional at the crafts festival, guests will be treated to numerous delicacies from Grandma's kitchen, which will be offered at special stalls. No one is likely to leave the festival hungry.

Programme highlights:

Saturday, 09.09.202310.30 - 18:00: Craft festival10.30 - 18:00: Farmers' market on the village square13.00:Historical tractor parade18.00: Evening service in the parish church of St. OswaldSunday, 10.09.202310.00: Holy Mass in the parish church of St. Oswald in Seefeld10.30 - 17:00: Handicraft festival10.30 - 17:00: Farmers' market on the village square13.00: Large traditional costume parade - pedestrian zone, SeefeldFurtherinformation is available at: www.seefeld.com/handwerksfest Royalty-free photo material can be downloaded here. Picture credits according to copyright notice.