In the Rauris Valley, the calendar follows the seasons. In summer the Noriker stallions are driven up to the high pastures, in autumn the valley celebrates the Bauernherbst, in Advent the Krampus bells ring out in Taxenbach, and in winter you can snowshoe through the Rauris primeval forest. Many of these dates are deeply rooted in local life, carried by brass bands, the young farmers' association, farming families and clubs from Rauris and Taxenbach.
Below you'll find all upcoming events in the valley, updated continuously. Filter by date, location or category and plan your holiday at the 4*S Rauriserhof so you don't miss a single highlight.
When the cattle come down from the alpine pastures, the most festive time of year begins in Rauris. Around the Bauernherbst weeks there are parades, the Ruperti whip-cracking contest, end-of-season parties with folk music and alphorns, and the big farmers' autumn festival on the market square and in the Voglmaierpark. The mountain huts serve mutton, farmhouse doughnuts and game ragout.
In Advent, the market square in Taxenbach smells of roasted almonds and honey mulled wine, wind players perform and horse-drawn carriages roll through the lit-up streets. A few days later, Krampus and Perchten figures with furs, horns and heavy bells parade through Taxenbach and Högmoos, a custom that belongs to the Pinzgau pre-Christmas season just as much as the Christmas market.
In winter the Hohe Tauern National Park offers guided snowshoe hikes in the Rauris primeval forest and around Kolm Saigurn, some of them into the sunset. Skiers reach 2,175 metres in no time on the summit lift of the Rauriser Hochalmbahnen. And once every winter the Kreuzboden valley run belongs to motorsport fans at the Snow-Speed-Hill Race.
Every spring, authors gather in the valley for the Rauris Literature Days. In early summer comes one of the most impressive spectacles in the Rauris Valley: the stallion drive at the Bodenhaus, where the Noriker stallions settle who leads the herd before heading up to the Grieswiesalm for around 100 days. In summer, the Kitzloch Gorge, the Hochalm adventure mountain, mountain golf in Embach and hikes into the Krumltal await, where with a little luck bearded vultures circle overhead.
Many activities in the valley are free or discounted with the Rauris Valley Guest Card and the National Park Summer or Winter Card, including the valley bus to the Seidlwinkltal, the alpine taxi to the Karalm, guided National Park hikes and snowshoe excursions. You can see which events this applies to directly in the calendar.
Good to know
The key answers about festivals, customs and excursions in Rauris and Taxenbach. You'll find all current dates in the events calendar above.
There's something going on in the Rauris Valley all year round. In summer the calendar features the stallion drive at the Bodenhaus, alpine festivals and guided hikes in the Hohe Tauern National Park. In autumn Rauris and Taxenbach celebrate the Bauernherbst with parades, whip-cracking contests and the big farmers' autumn festival. Advent brings Christmas markets and Krampus runs, and winter offers snowshoe hikes, ski tours and the Snow-Speed-Hill Race at Kreuzboden. You'll find all current dates in the events calendar on this page.
The Bauernherbst, or farmers' autumn, is the season when the Salzburg region celebrates the harvest and the return of the cattle from the high pastures. In the Rauris Valley it takes place in September and October. It kicks off with the farmers' autumn festival on the market square and in the Voglmaierpark in Rauris. During the following Bauernherbst weeks there are guided hikes into the Krumltal, the Ruperti whip-cracking contest, a family concert by the Rauris brass band and an end-of-season party at the Bräualm. The mountain huts serve mutton, farmhouse doughnuts and game ragout.
The stallion drive (Hengstauftrieb) takes place every year in early summer at the Alpengasthof Bodenhaus in Rauris. Under supervision, the Noriker stallions decide which of them will lead the herd, before heading up to the Grieswiesalm for around 100 days. There is an entrance fee for spectators. You'll find the exact date in the events calendar.
The Krampus is a horned, fur-clad figure from Alpine folklore who traditionally accompanies St Nicholas in early December. At a Krampus run (Krampuslauf or Krampusrummel), groups of Krampus and Perchten figures with heavy bells, shaggy furs and carved masks parade through the village. It's loud, a little wild and a genuine Alpine tradition. Small children are best kept close to their parents.
In late November and early December the Krampus figures are out mainly in Taxenbach, for example at the Krampus evening on the sports ground and the Krampus run in Taxenbach. There is also a Krampus run by the primary school in Högmoos. Dates are listed in the events calendar.
In the run-up to Christmas there are several Advent markets around Taxenbach: the Advent market at the Ziegelhütte, the traditional Advent market on the Taxenbach market square with wind players and horse-drawn carriage rides, and the Mountain Advent in Eschenau. The markets usually open in the afternoon.
With the Rauris Valley Guest Card and the National Park Summer or Winter Card, many activities are free, for example the autumn bus to Kolm Saigurn, the alpine taxi to the Karalm, the guided hike into the Krumltal and the National Park snowshoe hikes. The valley bus to the Seidlwinkltal is free with the National Park Summer Card. Discounts apply to the Kitzloch Gorge, the National Park House Wörth, the Rauris Valley Museum and the donkey walk in Eschenau, among others. Details are shown for each event in the calendar.
On rainy days, the National Park House in Wörth with its multimedia exhibition and the Rauris Valley Museum on Marktstraße, with 17 exhibition rooms, are good options. The museum sometimes opens at special times when the weather is bad. The Mesnerhaus in Rauris also hosts regular evenings such as circle singing, dance workouts and readings.
The Hochalm adventure mountain is a family favourite, with a water playground, barefoot trail, Kneipp pool and Tilly's forest path. On the autumn highlight days there's an extra children's programme with crafts, face painting or a treasure hunt. Other tips are the donkey walk in Eschenau, mountain golf in Embach, the Kitzloch Gorge and the National Park House Wörth.
Yes. In summer and autumn, guided hikes lead into the Krumltal, where bearded vultures have been reintroduced since 1986. In winter the National Park offers snowshoe hikes in the Rauris primeval forest and around Kolm Saigurn, some of them into the sunset, as well as an easy ski tour via the Seekopf to the Kolmkarspitze. Snowshoes and poles are provided free of charge on the snowshoe hikes. More about the park on our page about the Hohe Tauern National Park.
For many activities, yes, especially bus trips, alpine taxis and guided tours. Registration is usually through the Rauris tourist office or directly with the organiser, often by the day before. The exact deadlines are shown in each event's detail view under “Good to know”.
In summer and autumn the valley bus to the Seidlwinkltal, the autumn bus to Kolm Saigurn and the alpine taxi to the Karalm all leave from the municipal office. Taxi Plössnig runs day trips to Salzburg with the trick fountains at Hellbrunn Palace, as well as the Grossglockner tour. In winter you can reach the snowshoe hikes on the free valley shuttle bus.
Yes, on the Grossglockner tour departing from the Rauris municipal office. Keen hikers can get off at the Hochtor and walk back to Rauris through the Seidlwinkltal. The road toll is included in the fare, and there's a discount with the National Park Summer Card. Find out more about the Grossglockner High Alpine Road on our website.
The Rauriser Hochalmbahnen open for the winter season in December. The summit lift takes you up to 2,175 metres, and the lifts run daily until 4 p.m. You'll find current lift and slope information on our page Lifts & Slopes in Rauris.
The calendar loads automatically from the data of the Rauris Valley tourist board, so it's always current. Past dates disappear by themselves, and new events appear as soon as they are entered. Short-notice changes are still possible, so if in doubt, it's worth checking with the tourist office.
Would you like to plan your holiday around an event? Send us your preferred dates and we'll get back to you personally.
