Celebrations and a ride on the Waldbahn: at the Wilten district festival

25 October 2024

Post originally written in: Deutsch

Finale of the district tour through Innsbruck

The district tour entered its third round this year. A project that aims to show the individuality of the different districts and (re)discover their diversity. It is about bringing people together, exchanging ideas, making new contacts and, above all, having fun together. The tour concluded on October 19 with the Wilten-Waldbahn district festival. It was an all-round successful festival that impressed on all levels. My family and I attended the festival and I am delighted to be able to tell you all about it. I can say one thing straight away: The program was so extensive, exciting and interesting that it was impossible for us to see everything. Even though we arrived on time and stayed until the end! There was simply so much to discover and experience.

Bread and games

Anyone who knows us knows that we like to arrive late. So it was all the more amazing that we actually managed to witness the official opening live with the ceremonial entry of the Wilten music band. The Klostergasse in front of the Wilten Abbey had already been transformed into a lively marketplace with numerous stalls. There were plenty of games, workshops and creative and activity stations for the younger guests. But that wasn't the first thing that caught our - or rather my boys' - eye. They hardly get anything to eat at home (at least that's what you would think when you saw how big their eyes got when they saw the food selection), so they rushed straight to the hot dog stand. It's much better to play on a full stomach!

A playground for artists

The meadow between the collegiate church and the Innsbruck College for Tourism and Leisure Management was transformed into a hands-on circus. The young up-and-coming artists were able to try out their skills on various pieces of equipment. There were hula hoops, giant "hamster wheels" and balls on which they could balance and test their dexterity. The Lego station was a particularly simple but extremely successful idea. My children could have spent hours playing with the Lego bricks - and I don't think they were the only ones! It wasn't so easy to lure them away again.

Glass balls and big children's eyes

About two years ago, we went to an event in the Botanical Garden where the children were guided by the artist Mario Karner Glass baubles under the guidance of artist Mario Karner. To this day, they are proud to see their home-made baubles hanging on our Christmas tree. Mario Karner - who some of you may know from his glassblowing gallery Glaszeit (if not, you must read Lea's article about it) - was also at the district festival in Wilten. This time, you could once again blow your own glass balls or even drinking glasses. If he hadn't been there, I definitely wouldn't have been able to get my boys away from the Lego station. There was a big crowd, but once again it was worth the wait. Afterwards, we still had a little time to explore the other stands and play a round of Human Table Soccer. Afterwards, we took the forest train up to Igls.

With "the train for all the senses" to Igls

In cooperation between Innsbruck Tourismus, Innsbruck Marketing and the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol, a very special highlight was created: the Panoramic streetcar line 6 became a "train for all the senses". A ride on the Waldbahn is always an experience - especially in autumn, when the forest is ablaze with color. Every single stop is already worth a visit (you can find out more here), but on October 19 it was taken to the next level. It was a real feast for the senses.

A sound journey to Igls

First there was something to listen to: Music accompanied the visitors before and during the ride. In front of Wilten Abbey, DJ dropa and the bands Orient Okzident Express and Tumulti provided the right sound. In the evening, the party atmosphere really got going. We didn't catch the whole performance, but what we heard from the band was really good Cotton Underwear was really good. The boys and I - okay, actually just me - even danced a bit. Music was also provided during the streetcar ride: local artists made the ride a special experience with their compositions.

Autumnal coziness in Igls

A small but very nice market awaited visitors at Igls station. When we finally arrived, it was already dusk, but that didn't bother us - on the contrary, it made the atmosphere even cozier. Gilmore Girls-Fans will perhaps understand what I mean when I say that it felt like we had landed in a Tyrolean version of Stars Hollow. Everything was so warm, familiar and wonderfully autumnal. The lovingly decorated stands were an invitation to look and marvel. I particularly liked the stand of the Igl artist Bernadette Blümel. She even exhibits her outstanding ink drawings in major cities such as Las Vegas, Paris and Naples. How nice that we were also able to admire her works in Igls.

Sensory experiences: Seeing and feeling

I can't tell you personally about the "SEE" and "FEEL" stations. As I said, we "wasted" so much time in Wilten that we only caught the streetcar at 5:15 pm. That's why we didn't stop at Ambras Castle (station Schönruh), where there would have been exciting guided tours and a photo box, nor did we get off at the station Tantegert station. I'm really sad about that because I would have loved to take part in one of the yoga sessions. There was also a barefoot trail to explore and interactive touch boxes to sharpen your sense of touch. Too bad, but we went straight on to Igls, where everything revolved around "TASTE & SMELL".

Smell, taste and a whole lot of tradition

There were also the sweetest home-baked Halloween muffins, and the smell of freshly prepared "Blattln with Kraut" filled the air. Anyone visiting Tyrol should definitely try them. This delicious Tyrolean specialty is often served at festivals or sometimes even in traditional inns. Although we had already filled our bellies in Wilten, we couldn't resist this tempting selection. There was plenty to see at Igls, such as a demonstration by the fire department and long hose spraying. We also attended the guest appearance of the Söller Plattler. The girls and boys showed what Tyrolean tradition means and wowed the audience with their beautiful traditional costumes and great performance.

Behind the scenes - perfectly organized

The festival was not only excellently organized, but also a complete success - thanks to the commitment of eight students from the"Sports, Culture & Event Management" Master's degree course at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol, who had already started planning the event in April 2024. The active support of the staff at Innsbruck Marketing and Innsbruck Tourismus also played a key role in making this event a truly fantastic experience. Thank you very much!