Celebrate fall: events from Thanksgiving to Oktoberfest

It's autumn, how beautiful! Even if you hardly notice it when you take a quick look out of the window: most of the trees are still wearing their green dress, but the occasional red and yellow leaf is already shining. The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are dropping - and best of all, you can already smell the fall! What could be better than celebrating the colorful season? And where better to do that than in Innsbruck and the surrounding mountains? In this article, I'll take you to the Axamer Lizum, the highest Oktoberfest in the Alps, and tell you about the best autumn festivals in the region.

Stylish in a dirndl, crisp in lederhosen

Who agrees with me that women look even better in a dirndl and men in lederhosen? Really, I've never seen anyone who doesn't look good in traditional costume! Maybe that's why I like the Oktoberfest so much.

O’zapft isoktoberfest at the Hoadl House

Unfortunately I didn't make it to Munich this year - but no matter! Instead, this September I went to the Hoadl-Haus in the Axamer Lizum for the highest Oktoberfest in the Alps. And believe me: in terms of panorama and location, the Theresienwiese doesn't stand a chance - in my opinion. The atmosphere was also unbeatable: We Tyroleans simply know how to party. And drink beer. Although I have to admit that I saw a few girls who preferred a glass of white wine spritzer... I hope no Bavarian saw that.

Time to say thank you

If you didn't make it to the Axamer Lizum, you definitely missed something - sorry, I have to be honest. But that's no reason to be sad, because as promised, there are still lots of great autumn events waiting for you. Let's start with Thanksgiving. This festival is celebrated in numerous cultures with very different customs. The tradition also has a firm place in Tyrol: parishes often organize a celebration together with local associations, such as young farmers. Processions with harvest wagons and crowns, accompanied by a band, are just as much a part of the celebration as a solemn church service where the harvest offerings are blessed.

Harvest festival in Mieming

On October 5, 2025, the Mieminger Plateau will host a Harvest festival will take place. It starts with a ceremonial procession from Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz to the church - with a harvest wagon and harvest crown, accompanied by the local band. This is followed at 10:00 a.m. by the harvest service in the parish Barwies. The festival is organized almost entirely by the young farmers. Their chairman, Benedikt Van Staa, told me that the harvest wagon will be particularly beautiful this year. The Imst district harvest festival takes place at the end of September - and in order to be able to shine there, the young farmers have designed the float in a particularly elaborate way. The people of Barwies and everyone who attends the harvest festival on October 5 will now also benefit from this.

Harvest thanksgiving in Mutters

But it's not just in Barwies that people give thanks for a bountiful year - in the community too Mutters is also celebrated. On October 12, the Stubai area harvest festival will take place there. Holy mass in the parish church is followed by a parade with magnificently decorated harvest festival floats, accompanied by the music band. You can also admire the traditional Thanksgiving crown, made from the year's harvest. It symbolizes thanks to God for a successful harvest. At the end of the day, there is a communal Frühschoppen with musical accompaniment.

Autumn enjoyment at 1,905 meters

Enjoyment belongs to autumn like the Nordkette to Innsbruck. Well, if that isn't the perfect segue to our next event! On the weekends from October 4 to 19, 2025, the annual Nordkette Genuss Herbst will take place high above Innsbruck. Visitors can look forward to a small Tyrolean market offering regional delicacies and craftsmanship - such as Latschen spirits from AlpPine Spirits or artistic works from Roswitha Lotz. Children will have the opportunity to make their own candles together with Monika Eberwein.

There will also be plenty of entertainment: for example, the Absamer Zitter Dirndlwho are scheduled to perform on Saturday, October 4, and Sunday, October 12. "Genuine" Tyrolean folk music is also promised by the Inntal Guitar Trio on October 11 - to name just a few highlights! In short: with a view over Innsbruck and far beyond, Tyrolean specialties at the market and hearty delicacies in the Seegrube restaurant, autumn can be enjoyed to the full at Nordkette.

Innsbruck Autumn Fair

Another highlight in the Tyrolean fall is the Innsbruck Autumn Fairwhich takes place this year from October 8 to 12, 2025. It's actually perfect for first feasting up on the mountain at Nordkette Genuss Herbst and then heading straight down to the exhibition hall - or vice versa. I confess: I've never actually made it to the fall fair before (shame on me). But when I look at everything on offer here, I should urgently change that. From living and fashion to culinary delights - there are countless inspirations for your own four walls, your closet and, of course, your taste buds. On top of that, the Ticket not only includes public transportation from all over Tyrol, but also daily concerts by popular stars in the ORF Radio Tirol Musiklounge. So it's no wonder that the Autumn Fair has been one of the biggest family and shopping experiences in Tyrol for decades

The Gundolf family goes Oktoberfest

And last but not least: the big Innsbruck Oktoberfest! On Sunday, October 19, 2025, the Alpensaal at the trade fair - also known as the "largest parlor in Tyrol" - will be transformed into the Innsbruck Wiesn. From 10:30 a.m., visitors can enjoy a morning pint with traditional brass music from the Inntaler and the popular show program from the Gundolf family. There will also be typical sausage specialties, roast pork and, of course, vegetarian alternatives. Admission is free - the best conditions for an exuberant fall Sunday in the middle of Innsbruck.

As always, it only remains for me to wish you all a wonderful fall - for me perhaps the most beautiful season of the year, which unfortunately always passes far too quickly. So let's celebrate it together!

Information about

Harvest festival Mieming
05.October. 2025 from approx. 08:45 a.m.
Wallnöfer-Platzl

Harvest festival Mutters
12. October 2025 from 10:00 am
Mutters, church-village-music pavilion

Nordkette Enjoyment Fall
On the weekends from October 4 to 19, between 11:00 - 17:00
Seegrube

Innsbruck Autumn Fair 2025
8. until October 12, 2025,
Messe Innsbruck

Innsbruck Oktoberfest
19. October 2025, from approx. 10:30 a.m.
Alpensaal at Messe Innsbruck
Please register: Phone: 0043-512-263263
Email: wiesn@oktoberfest.tirol

Cover picture: © Elisabeth de Koekkoek