Krautinger Week
Early October, about ten days
The Wildschönau is known for Krautinger, a spirit distilled from turnips. Around the start of October the valley spends more than a week celebrating this root and the regional product made from it.
The week includes tours of farms that distil it, turnip dishes on restaurant menus and the choice of the Krautinger of the year. Around 3 October there is traditionally a harvest festival with a church service and procession. The exact programme differs each year.
Family Advent at Drachental
Usually the first two Advent weekends
In the Advent season the Drachental family park in the Wildschönau hosts a small Christmas market for families, usually on the first two Advent weekends.
Stalls offer mulled wine and punch, products from local farmers and gift ideas. It is a relaxed, cosy way to experience December in the valley. Dates and times for 2026 are not yet confirmed, so check with Wildschönau Tourism beforehand.
Place: Oberau
Ski Juwel season opening
4 December 2026 (partial), more lifts mid-December
According to the official operating times, Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau opens for the 2026/27 winter on 4 December 2026 with part of its lifts, including the Schatzbergbahn in Auffach and the lifts on the Wiedersberger Horn in Alpbach.
Sections such as the link between the two valleys and the Reitherkogelbahn follow in mid-December. Most lifts are planned to close around 4 April 2027. Snow conditions can change this, so check the ski area's website beforehand.
Place: Auffach
Official website
Thierbach Advent
Advent season; dates vary by year
The small village of Thierbach is known for its nativity scenes made by local woodcarvers. In Advent a local association organises an atmospheric evening there with lights, a Christmas post office, horse-drawn carriage rides and carol singers.
The nativity trail through the valley, with illuminated cribs, also runs in winter. We could not confirm the exact date of the 2026 event.
Place: Thierbach
Hahnenkamm Races, Kitzbühel
18-24 January 2027 (downhill 23 January)
The Hahnenkamm races in Kitzbühel are among the best-known ski races in the world. The 87th edition runs from 18 to 24 January 2027, with the super-G on Friday 22 January, the downhill on Saturday 23 January and the slalom on Sunday 24 January.
The training runs on 19 to 21 January are free to watch. Tickets for race days are sold in advance only, not on site. Kitzbühel is roughly a 45-minute drive from Niederau.
Place: Kitzbühel
Niederau village evening
Every summer, regularly, from late May to early September
In summer Niederau holds a regularly village evening on the square next to the Markbachjoch cable car. It runs roughly from 7 pm to 10 pm; around 8.15 pm the village brass band marches in and a square concert follows.
In 2026 the series ran from 27 May to 2 September. We have not confirmed the 2027 dates or the fixed weekday; check the Wildschönau Tourism programme on arrival.
Gauder Fest, Zell am Ziller
Every year around the first weekend of May
The Gauder Fest is a large spring and traditional-costume festival in Zell am Ziller in the Zillertal. The tradition is listed in Austria's national inventory of intangible cultural heritage.
The highlight is the parade on the first Sunday of May, with plenty of music, costumes and the special Gauder beer. In 2026 it ran from 30 April to 3 May; we could not confirm the exact 2027 dates. Zell am Ziller is about 45 minutes by car from Niederau.
Place: Zell am Ziller
Official website
Innsbruck Festival of Early Music
Every summer, usually July to late August
The Innsbruck Festival of Early Music presents baroque and early music, with operas and concerts at historic venues in and around Innsbruck. In 2026 it marked its 50th edition, running from 24 July to 30 August.
Dates for 2027 are not yet confirmed, but the festival usually takes place in July and August. Innsbruck is about an hour by car from Niederau.
Place: Innsbruck
Official website
Heldenorgel concerts, Kufstein
Daily at noon; also 6 pm in July and August
Kufstein Fortress is home to the Heldenorgel, the largest free-standing organ in the world, with 65 stops and 4,948 pipes. It was built in 1931 in memory of those killed in the First World War.
The organ sounds daily at noon, and in July and August also at 6 pm. There are also summer organ concerts on Tuesday evenings from late June and in July (free in 2026). Kufstein is about 40 minutes by car from Niederau.
Place: Kufstein
Oberau square concert
Every summer on Tuesday evenings, 8 pm (July-August)
Every Tuesday evening in summer the Oberau village brass band plays a varied square concert in the village centre, at the Dreizehnlindenplatz. It starts at 8 pm.
In 2026 the series ran from 7 July to 1 September. It is a relaxed outing for the whole family. Whether the 2027 series follows the same period has not yet been confirmed.
Place: Oberau
Wildschönau Valley Festival
5-8 August 2027 in Oberau
The Talfest is the big village festival of the whole valley and takes place every August, each time in a different municipality. In 2026 it was in Niederau; the 70th edition runs from 5 to 8 August 2027 in Oberau.
There is plenty of music from bands and groups. On Sunday a large parade passes through the village with about 500 participants, decorated floats, brass bands, marksmen and local clubs.
Place: Oberau
Almabtrieb, Wildschönau (Auffach)
18 September 2027, 10 am-6 pm
At the Almabtrieb the cattle return from the high pastures to the valley after summer, festively decorated. In Auffach it is a large public festival at the Schatzbergbahn valley station, with a crafts and farmers' market.
The 2026 edition took place on 19 September, with over 500 animals. In 2027 the Almabtrieb is on 18 September, from 10 am to 6 pm, opened by a procession of the Auffach brass band.
Place: Auffach
Always check times, prices and opening dates with the provider beforehand; they can change.