The Fasnacht traditions in Tyrol, Austria's alpine region, are celebrated the weeks before carnival day.
These ancient traditions entertain natives and visitors alike and mark the beginning of a new, fresh spring, and you shouldn't miss them if you love unique cultural events!
What is Fasnacht in Tyrol?
Fasnacht, or Fastnacht as it is called in other regions, is a pre-carnival celebration held in western Austria, Switzerland and southern Germany.
The ritual has probably ancient pre-Christian and medieval roots and involves local men dressing up with hand carved masks and themed costumes representing special figurines.
Throughout the centuries, these processions survived, prohibitions, pestilence and at the latest pandemic.
In Tyrol, a mountainous western region in Austria, the tradition is held only in a handful of towns in the western side of the region. Some are organized every few years between special intervals only.
These Fasnacht traditions have special names, and each area has a version that differentiates from the other ones. In fact, they have been added to the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage traditions.
The parades are held ones on a Sunday, starting usually somewhere between 11am and 3:00 pm, and they can last 2–3 hours.
It is not uncommon that besides traditional figurines, they also include typical nonsocial Austrian carnival characters.
Contemporary carnival in Austria is known as Fasching and people dress up the way you'd see people dressing up for Halloween. But the difference is that people try to be as silly as possible, and it can get a bit crazy at times. Basically, the madness reigns high!
Where and When to see them?
The dates change every year, but the Fasnach event always takes place in February, the weeks before Carnival Day and Ash Wednesday.
Muller and Matschger
The Muller and Matschger is the easiest accessible carnival tradition, and it's held in rotation in one of the MARTHA villages (Mühlau, Arzl, Rum, Thaur, Absam) near Innsbruck every year.
If you are in Innsbruck, you can get there by public transport or a rental.
Here every MARTHA village showcases their traditions, masks, and costumes, and it's always a lot of fun.
Next Event: 15th February 2026, 2 pm onwards in the village of Absam.
Cost: €8 per adult, and kids up to 14 years of age are free.
Imst Schemenlauf
The Schemenlauf, which can be roughly translated to “the run of the otherworldly shadow figurines,” is the most traditional and spectacular parade that you can experience.
This is a must-see event because it's held every 4 years only, on the Sunday before the nonsensical Thursday (Thursday before Carnival). I have only taken part once, when I was a kid, and it was just otherworldly.
900 participants and over 20000 visitors make this one of the largest cultural events in Austria.
Next Event: 5th February 2028, in the town of Imst.
Cost: Not yet set.
Telfer Schleicherlauf
The Telfer Schleicherlauf takes place every 5 years, and unfortunately, the last event just wrapped up on the 2nd of February, 2025.
Four seasons and medieval heralds with trumpets on horseback, as well as richly decorated headgear, can be experienced here.
This Fasnacht tradition is the unique one of them all
Next Event: February 2030, 11:30 am onwards in the town of Telfs.
Cost: €10 per adult.
Schellerlaufen in Nassereith
The Schellerlaufen is celebrated every 3 years in a small mountain village called Nassereith. Here, the battle between good and evil is at the center of all celebrations.
Colorful costumes, unique masks, and oversized bells enthrall all visitors at this special event.
Next Event: 1st February 2026, in the village of Nassereith.
Cost: €9 per adult, and kids up to 16 years of age are free.
Fisser Blochziehen
The Bloch, a 35-meter-long pine tree, is being pulled across the village of Fiss before it is auctioned off.
Uniquely to the village in the higher valleys of the Alps, this physically demanding tradition is full of symbolism and fun characters.
Next Event: 25th January 2026, 12:30 pm onwards, in Fiss. A traditional children's version of that will be held in 2028.
Cost: Not yet set.
Figurine Meanings
It is believed that the figurines represent spring and the good, and they come sweeping in to take over from the cold winter demons.
A fight between winter and spring is orchestrated, which can be an interpretation of the constant clashing of the human spirit and body. The eternal duality found in nature at its best.
The blowing and swishing sound that they make, will have you think you are in some kind of fabled dream realm.
Add to that, that the characters each have a deeper significance and purpose.
For example, at the Imster Schemenlauf, you will see characters that create order by playfully pushing the crowd behind a line to make enough space for the first performers, wagons, and groups.
Specific figurines tell the tale of ethnic communities that used to live in the area or in Europe. Others incorporate animals such as the bear, and then you have spiritual forest-like creatures as well.
A mask with a black figure called the Moor can also be part of the parade in some places.
It's a wild mix and match that the local men work on months in advance. They, by the way, dress up as men and women. Carnival cross-dressing has been prevalent for centuries.
Here are the meanings of all the figurines for each event:
Muller and Matschger
- Juniperberry Bushes and the witches, prep the place for the figurines, which are known as Muller
- Halbweißer, is spring in white pants.
- Melcher, in his traditional leather pants, represents the summer.
- Spiegeltuxer, represents high summer with his headgear (as in Almabtrieb cow headgear).
- Zaggler, stands for fall and he is blue.
- Zottler, is the winter in fringes and the sad, depressed look.
- Four Faces, are the four seasons.
Imst Schemenlauf
- Roller and Scheller, are the core figurines at the Schemenlauf. The roller has a prominent manly shape, while the Scheller has a youthfulness to him. They wear highly decorated headgear.
- Lagge, is the elderly, weaker, version of the Roller and Scheller. Age caught up with him.
- Spritzer, sprays water around with a 1-meter-long spraying thing, and they carry around a pack of “naked” Pretzel which they give away to kids.
- Sackerner, makes space for the upcoming character groups and wagons by pushing viewers away.
- Witches being witches.
- The Bears, which reminds us how showmen troops used to move about Central Europe with chained bears.
Telfer Schleicherlauf
- Schleicher, are the core group, and you will recognize them on their decorative hats. They perform a mythical circle dance in an ancient traditional sequence of steps. They are essentially shadow figurines.
- Laninger, are a historical group of traveling people in the region which make an appearance here.
- Bears and Exotics are a mixed batch of oriental characters with elephants and more.
- The Heralds, dressed in their medieval clothes with trumpets and on a horse.
- The Wilds, prep the place for the following characters.
- Four Seasons, are represented by 12 men on horseback.
Schellerlaufen in Nassereith
- Scheller, is the bell ringer.
- Roller, dances around and near the Scheller.
- Kehrer, he appears to be cleaning away with his broom.
- Spritzer, spraying around water.
- Sackner, makes space, wears a skirt and a hat and has a an ugly funny face.
- Schnöller, whips his large whip.
- Maje, is a pretty Alm girl.
- The Giant Pair, is a pair of either hunter people, fishermen folks etc.
- Ruassler, is colorful and will try to smear a black coal line on your face.
Fisser Blochziehen
- The Hunter and the Bear Keeper who control the bear and the Miasmann, a wild bushy man.
- Mohrelen, are black characters that chase away the demons.
- Schallner symbolizes youth.
- Schwoaftuifl is the devil with the tail and the then there are the witches. Both symbolize the evil.
- Giggler is a chicken and a symbol of fertility.
- The jester, called Bajatzl, is a symbol of all good.
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