Rural Christmas Markets

Alongside South Tyrol's five large Christmas Markets, numerous villages also invite you to explore smaller, yet delightful Christmas Markets. Each one possesses its own individual charm. However, a contemplative atmosphere, local handicrafts, and authentic supporting programmes are common to all. Most take place on Advent weekends, some additionally on special days like St. Nicholas Day (December 6) or the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8):

• Christmas Market in Silandro: For 15 years, the pedestrian zone of Silandro (Schlanders) in the Val Venosta valley, located in the west of South Tyrol, has transformed into a large Christmas Market during the Advent weekends. Local producers, artisans, and hobby artists offer their wares. Music and the Silandro hunting horn blowers provide a festive atmosphere.

• "Christmas in the Passeiertal": The Val Passiria valley offers four distinct Advent experiences: the "Martiner Sternstunden" (Magic Moments) in San Martino in Passiria, the "Liechtr'Zeit" (Time of Lights) in San Leonardo in Passiria, the "Advent in Moso" in Moso in Passiria, and the "Advent in Riffiano". These events are smaller and cosier than those in the surrounding towns. Highlights include a performance by the traditional Goaslschnöller, the whip crackers of the valley, and the Advent celebrations at the lese.werk.statt (reading workshop).

• "Christkindl wortn - Waiting for the Christ Child" in Fiè allo Sciliar: Beneath the Sciliar, a charming Christmas Market awaits at the Church Square. A majestic Christmas tree, festive lights, and pretty market stalls shorten the wait for Christmas. On the weekends from the beginning of December to the beginning of January, various musical groups, such as the Fiè Men's Choir, DJ Le Flör, and the youth choir Voci.ssimo, provide entertainment.

• Lagundo Christmas Market: At the Lagundo Church Square, wooden stalls entice visitors with gift ideas, fragrant drinks, traditional treats, and Christmas cookies. The Christmas Market takes place from the end of November until New Year's Day and features show cooking, an extensive children's programme, and the Aperitivo Lungo - Winter Edition.

• "The Magic of Advent in Parcines": In the historic village centre, with its festively illuminated Church Square, "The Magic of Advent in Parcines" takes place at the Advent weekends. Alongside mulled wine, the Farm Advent at the Unterweirach Farm, and Christmas tree sales, the Peter Mitterhofer Typewriter Museum also opens its doors.

• "Sterntaler Christmas Market" in Lana: Above the Capuchin Gardens in Lana di Sopra, a cosy Christmas Market awaits with 20 stalls and extended opening hours on New Year's Eve. From the end of November to the end of December, there's a Christmas Post Box and a competition featuring the girl of the "Sterntaler" fairytale (The Star Money).

• "Appiano Eppan Advent": Twinkling lights, handcrafted products, live music, and mulled wine - the event offers all this and more. In addition to the "Cribs at the Cathedral" in San Paolo, the exhibitors from SelberGMOCHT Südtirol (Self-Made South Tyrol) present their products at the "Christmas Magic" in San Michele. KidsXmas provides magical moments one weekend.

• "Wine Meets Christmas: An Artful Journey through Cornaiano: 35 works of art crafted from old wine barrels, illuminated in the evenings, transform the wine village into an extraordinary open-air museum. This event, which is also part of "Appiano Eppan Advent", takes place every weekend from the end of November until the beginning of January. The "Cornaiano Advent Hit" at the Tannerhof rounds off the offerings.

• Christmas in Caldaro: In the heart of Caldaro, a small Christmas Market takes place from the end of November to the beginning of January. In addition to a model railway exhibition and the mask exhibition of the "Rostnboch Tuifl", the local Krampus association, the Christmas campaign "Das grosse Los in Kaltern und Eppan" (The Big Draw in Caldaro and Appiano) and the New Year's Eve aperitif at the Castel Sallegg Vineria attract visitors.

• "Renon Christmas Train" (Rittner Christbahnl): A unique Christmas Market awaits you along the route of the historic Renon Railway in Soprabolzano and Collalbo. The large crowds at the valley station of the Renon Cable Car in Bolzano already attest to the popularity of this Christmas Market. On the Advent weekends, there's a ventriloquist show, llamas, Swiss pine products, and the traditional Renon Farmers' Advent in Collalbo on December 8.

• "Marcé da Nadé - Corvara Christmas Market": The "Marcé da Nadé" takes place in the town square. Here you'll find handicrafts, a life-size nativity scene by the sculptor Leo Moroder, gifts, fabric accessories, toys, jams, decorations, and a limited-edition Valdobbiadene DOCG wine.

• "Nadé te plaza - The Christmas Village" in San Cassiano: A small, charming Christmas village springs up around the pavilion in the village centre of San Cassiano in the Alta Badia from mid-December to early January. Music, crafts, lights, and gift ideas invite you to linger.

• "Christmas in the Park" in the Rasun di Sotto Leisure Park: Against the backdrop of the snow-covered Vedrette di Ries mountain group, a small Christmas Market with music takes place on December weekends. St. Nicholas and the Krampus also pay a visit to the market. The aroma of hot chestnuts, mulled wine spices, and other regional delicacies accompanies the festive atmosphere at the entrance to the Valle di Anterselva valley.

• "Christmas in the Dolomites" in San Candido: In the alleyways of San Candido in the Upper Val Pusteria, a market with local handicrafts, specialities, tradition, and natural products awaits you on weekends from the end of November to the beginning of January (daily during the Christmas holidays). Also the Three Peaks Show Dairy, the DoloMythos Museum, and "Das süsse Standl" (The Sweet Stall) participate at the "Christmas in the Dolomites".

The following cosy and authentic Christmas Markets also take place for just one or two weekends during Advent:

• Glorenza Advent: Within the town walls of Glorenza (Glurns) in the Val Venosta valley, South Tyrol's smallest town, the Glorenza Advent takes place on the weekend of December 8 under the motto "Light, Scents, Sounds". This small Christmas Market beneath the Glorenza arcades has been attracting numerous visitors every year for over two decades.