A festival steeped in history
From medieval church fairs and a 1920s charity festival to a perfectly organised town festival – the fair is as much a part of Kitzbühel as the mountains are of the town.
A celebration that feels like second nature
Once a year, the town centre becomes a stage. Music fills the air; people laugh, clink glasses and celebrate long into the night. What now seems like a matter of course has evolved over centuries. As early as the 14th century, Kitzbühel held the right to hold a ‘church fair with special entertainment’. From the very beginning, the market and the festival were closely linked.
From charity to a folk festival
In its present form, the story begins in 1923: the town and the district jointly organised a charity event in aid of the Committee for the Poor and Welfare. The first fair of this new era took place in the autumn – as a festival and a sign of solidarity in action.
In 1924, things became spectacular: a cabinet of curiosities, a circus featuring the ‘largest freely trained lion’ and a tightrope walker provided a spectacle to marvel at. In 1930, the ‘lucky pot’ followed – the top prize at the time: a pig. Today, with hundreds of prizes, it is one of the most popular attractions at the festival. In 1937, the fair had to be postponed three times due to bad weather.
Town bands, clubs and a sense of identity
The town band was first mentioned in an organisational context in 1938 – it has been officially in charge since 1950. With the involvement of local clubs, the fair developed into one of the most important summer festivals in the district. In 1962, it was even recognised as exempt from licensing requirements on the basis of its tradition.
And then there was the confetti. It didn’t just stay on the street – it ended up in pockets, shoes and between the buttons of traditional costumes. Today, that is long gone. What remains is the feeling of an evening that lingered for days afterwards – and it is precisely this feeling that characterises the fair to this day.
Today: more professional, more sustainable, more child-friendly
Much has evolved: the returnable cup system now ensures a visibly cleaner cityscape and makes the council’s work easier after the festivities. The organisation has become more professional – the joy of celebrating has remained.
For this year’s anniversary fair, a dedicated children’s area with a bouncy castle and play street is being set up in the city park for the first time. Because the fair is more than just a festival: it is a meeting place, a tradition and an identity – for the hundredth time, and yet new every year.
