Traditional Tyrolean Handcrafts Festival 10Th and 11Th September 2016 in Seefeld’S Pedestrian Zone

Traditional Tyrolean handcrafts festival 10th and 11th September 2016 in Seefeld’s pedestrian zone

This year once again, for the 19th time, Seefeld’s business community is organising the “Altes Handwerk Tirol” event, a festival of traditional Tyrolean handcrafts. The guiding principle behind the event has remained the same since its very beginning, namely “Authenticity & Originality”. As usual, on the second weekend in September, craftsmen and women dedicated to keeping alive their traditional skills will convene in Seefeld and enthral visitors by giving them the chance to watch the “old masters of their craft” at work. Preparations for the event, which have been going on for the last six months, are now in the final stage and there’s one thing we can promise already: It’s again set to be a very special and unique event - this year again over 800 performers in traditional costume have confirmed their participation.

In craftsmanship lies mankind’s most valuable commodity This year, throughout the entire pedestrian zone, more than 1,500 men and women (craftspeople, musicians, choirs, traditional costume associations, tractor drivers and many more besides) will ensure a festival to remember by demonstrating their traditional handcraft skills at over 100 stands and in the many outdoor presentation areas. They come from North, South and East Tyrol, and from the neighbouring regions of Salzburg, Carinthia, Vorarlberg and Bavaria.

This event holds a high status Seefeld’s calendar of tourist attractions. The organisers are very selective in their choice of participants in order to ensure a unique festival with a truly distinctive character.

Craftsmen and women of almost forgotten trades demonstrate their skills in Seefeld’s pedestrian zone Basket weavers, saddlers, violinmakers, felt makers, hatters, smiths, barrel makers, wain- wrights, potters, knife grinders, sign painters, cloth printers, goldsmiths, chip carvers, sculp- tors, knife and cutlery makers, gold embroiderers, quill embroiderers, embossers, bobbin lace makers, wood turners, glass blowers, tanners, engravers, mask carvers, fence makers, sheepshearers and pine oil distillers, to name but a few. Under the motto “from grain to bread,” bakers from South Tyrol will be demonstrating the journey taken by rye grain from the field all the way to the baker’s oven. Watch them make bread dough which is then transfor- med into several South-Tyrolean bread specialities including “Breatln” and “Vinschgerlen” and baked in a wood-burning stove. The smell of the freshly baked bread is so irresistible you simply have to stop and enjoy a taste. Many other very rare crafts, some of which have almost died out completely, are also, once again, on show, including monastic artwork, and handcrafts which were formerly carried out on farms, such as butter making, the processing of sheep’s wool and flax, the hollowing-out of pine for water pipes - you can even see a hand saw - scythe sharpening, log splitting for fences and lots more besides. And the special exhibition of traditional costumes in the chapter house, has, over the years, also become a major attraction in itself offering an ever more in-depth insight into almost-forgotten handicrafts. Have you already “crafted” your plans for the weekend?

Seefeld smithies Knife grinder Barrel maker and wainwright Local sheep shearers Folk music, brass-band music and traditional, homemade specialities But it’s not only old handcrafts that have become a permanent feature of this two-day event – skilled musicians will also be performing high-quality, authentic folk music in 9 different areas in the pedestrian zone. All lovers of brass-band music can enjoy a treat in the music pavilion where, among others, the brass and woodwind bands “Simmerinka” from Haiming (on both days) and from Sistrans (on Sunday) will be performing. And it goes without saying that a Tyrolean festival wouldn’t be a Tyrolean festival without traditional, mouth-watering, homemade treats which are on offer at designated stands. TIP: Try the local specialities “Kiachln” and “Zillertaler Krapfen”!

Die Vielsaitigen South-Tyrolean threshers Pewter-embroidering on belts Wooden trough-making

Historical tractor procession The main attraction on Saturday is the tractor procession at 1 pm, accompanied by the brass band from Scharnitz. The oldest tractors date back as far as 1939, and some of the vehicles carry additional historical farm working equipment, such as the formidable first sickle-bars used in the Seefeld Plateau. Rarities also include a stationary-engine gristmill, a “tedder” for turning hay and a potato harvester. Accompanying evening mass in St. Oswald Parish Church is a performance by the gospel choir “Spirit of Gospel” from Zurich / Affoltern, thus bringing Saturday’s events to a festive close.

Stunning traditional costume parade The ultimate highlight on Sunday is a stunning parade of wearers of traditional costumes at 1 pm with over 800 participants from North and South Tyrol. They will be accompanied by three local brass and woodwind bands from Seefeld, Sistrans and Scharnitz. The local association dedicated to vintage tractors and bikes - “Herr der Räder” (Lord of the Wheels) – will bring both parades to a close with their nostalgic “Penny Farthing” bicycle procession.

Seefeld marching band Tractor enthusiasts Traditionally-dressed women Traditional attire from the from the Zillertal valley Seefeld area The World of Traditional Costumes SPECIAL EXHIBITION IN THE CHAPTER HOUSE The two-day event is enhanced by a special exhibition in the chapter house. The theme of the exhibition is traditional costumes, and men and women from North and South Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Bavaria will demonstrate their skills in crea- ting decorative elements such as various headpieces, cloth printing and embroidery. Visitors to the exhibition can watch quill embroiderers, gold embroiderers and traditional indigo-blue cloth printers at work. In addition you can also see how important accessories are crafted such as hand-embroidered bands, stockings, hats, hand-embellished belts, buckles, buttons to name but a few. Three women from the picturesque village of Thiersee will be demonstrating their skills in carding and spinning wool then knitting with it. A performance by the band “Stubaier Freitagsmusig” has become a yearly fixture in front of the chapter house and, right beside them, you can watch the Seefeld “Plattler” perform their traditional “shoe-slapping” dances. Sit down, enjoy a hearty snack and watch them demonstrate their prowess in 3/4 time!

Handcrafts from the Bregenz Cheers – a toast to the Tyrol! Peter Margreiter (Chairman of the Tyrolean Folk Music Forest region Association with his band Stubaier Freitagsmusig)

Thanks Before the event gets underway, the organisers from Seefeld’s business community would like to thank all those who diligently and generously contribute to ensure that this unique weekend is, once again, a resounding success. Special thanks go, in particular, to the local council, the tourism association, the two municipal maintenance departments, the local restaurants, cafés, bars, hotels and other accommodation providers, the “Bezirkstrachenverband Innsbruck” (regio- nal traditional costume association), the marching bands from Seefeld, Scharnitz, Sistrans and the brass band “Simmerin- ka“, the Raiffeisenbank Seefeld and to all helpers.

Contact details for enquiries/further information: Seefelder Kaufmannschaft Ernst Meier, tel: + 43 664 340 5058, email: [email protected] For detailed information visit www.seefeld.com

May be subject to changes. DIE SEEFELDER KAUFMANNSCHAFT PRÄSENTIERT: Altes Handwerk TIROL · Fotos: Olympiaregion Seefeld 664 / 308 44 35 · Fotos: Olympiaregion · telfs 00 43 / (0) werbeagentur

HISTORISCHE TRAKTORENPARADE am Samstag um 13.00 Uhr GROSSER TRACHTENUMZUG am Sonntag um 13.00 Uhr SONDERAUSSTELLUNG im Kapitelsaal