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Why should you lace up your hiking boots in September and October? Our tips for your fall vacation in Austria.

Verena Junger
Content Manager
at ALPS RESORTS

Harvest festival and cattle drive in Salzburger Land

Before the first snow, the farmers drive their cattle from the mountain pastures back into the warm barn. The past alpine summer and the rich harvest are celebrated: Around 2,000 traditional events take place during the Farmers' Autumn in Salzburger Land.

When is the farmers' autumn in Salzburger Land?

After the alpine summer, more than 75 towns in Salzburger Land celebrate the Harvest Festival. From mid-August to the end of October, you can experience parades, traditional customs and craft demonstrations and be part of the cattle drive when the decorated animals return from the alpine pastures to the valley. Guided themed hikes and cooking courses are also on offer.

The Harvest Festival in Salzburger Land is a time of indulgence: Autumn specialties and game dishes are increasingly found on the menus of the more than 340 Harvest Festival hosts. You shouldn't miss the typical Bauernherst delicacies such as Bauernkrapfen, which are often served at the popular Bauernherbst festivals. At farmers' markets, farmers offer homemade jams, schnapps, syrup, good things from the smokehouse, cheese products, fresh farmhouse bread and other delicacies.

What is a cattle drive?

In early summer, the animals are driven from the farm to the lush alpine pastures in the mountains. During the Salzburger Almsommer, they feast on the lush alpine herbs for around 100 days. In late summer and fall, when the days get colder and the first snowfall is imminent, the animals return to the valley.

The animals are festively decorated with colorful ribbons, bells and mirrors on their way from the alpine pasture to the barn. This is a way of honoring the animals' health and thanking them for an accident-free alpine summer. If there has been a stroke of fate or bereavement, the elaborate decorations are dispensed with or black ribbons are used as mourning florals.

A cattle drive symbolizes the cycle of agriculture and reminds us of the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and the preservation of the Alpine cultural landscape. It has evolved from a purely agriculturally motivated event to an important cultural event that is deeply rooted in the traditions of the people of the Alps. Nowadays, cattle drives in Salzburger Land are often associated with major festivals such as the Bauernherbst events

Where can you find the most beautiful cattle drives and farmers' autumn festivals in Salzburger Land?

With around 2,000 events during the Harvest Festival in Salzburger Land, it's not easy to choose. You can visit these highlight events around our ALPS RESORTS during the fifth season:

Farmers' Autumn Weeks in the Rauris Valley

A grand parade, traditional folk performances, craft stalls, a colorful children's program …: In the Rauris Valley, Farmers' Autumn will be celebrated on September 12, 2026 with a grand festival. Among those taking part are the Schnalzer and Schuhplatter dancers, the rural youth group and local heritage group, as well as the Rauris traditional music band. Excellent food (delicious regional delicacies will be served) and entertainment are guaranteed.
ALPS RESORT in the Raurisertal: Modern vacation apartments right at the valley station of the Rauriser Hochalmbahnen in Carpe Solem Rauris. Featuring a wellness area with panoramic saunas, an indoor pool, a rooftop garden, and the National Park Summer Card included.

Decorated cows during the cattle drive through the centre of Rauris.

People crafting traditional hay figures in the mountains of Annaberg, Salzburger Land – Photo: TVB Annaberg (c)

HeuART Festival in the Lammertal

At the end of August, the HeuART Festival draws thousands of visitors to the Salzburg Lammertal, with the highlight being the world’s largest hay figure parade. Through painstaking, weeks-long manual labor, artists and local clubs create a wide variety of figures out of hay, which visitors marvel at during the parade. Each figure requires around 400 hours of work! Those who can’t make it to the HeuART Festival can hike the Hay Figure Trail in Annaberg.
Date: September 6, 2026, more information: www.heuart.at.
ALPS RESORTS in the Lammertal: Vacation homes at Alpendorf Dachstein West in Annaberg-Lungötz or vacation apartments at Hideaway Dachstein West in St. Martin. Both ALPS RESORTS feature a pool and saunas.

Cattle Drive in Radstadt

Every two years, Radstadt celebrates the end of the alpine summer with a spectacular cattle drive and a traditional harvest festival. The cows, adorned with wreaths, are driven from the Tauernkarleitenalm in Untertauern through the center of Radstadt to the barn of the Untersulzberg farmer. There, a farm festival takes place featuring music, regional delicacies, crafts, and a large children’s play area. The next cattle drive will take place in 2027; in 2026, this Bauernherbst program awaits you.

ALPS RESORT in the Salzburger Sportwelt: The vacation apartments at the Tauernresidence Radstadt (with outdoor pool) are located directly on the bike path and next to the Radstadt golf course.

Festively decorated cow during the Almabtrieb cattle drive in Radstadt, Salzburger Land – Photo: TVB Radstadt, Lorenz Masser (c)

Farmers' Market in Saalbach-Hinterglemm

The legendary farmers' market in Hinterglemm (after more than 40 years, that's a fair claim) lasts 3 days. Highlights include traditional costume golf, the local wrestling club’s championships, a tractor exhibition, a large children’s play area, local vendors with their homemade products, and music groups. Dates: August 7–9, 2026

ALPS RESORT in Saalbach-Hinterglemm: For a summer vacation at the Saalbach Suites in Saalbach-Jausern, the JOKER CARD is included.

The farmers' autumn in Salzburger Land has what it takes to be your favorite time of year. Hiking, eating, celebrating the good life. Are you in?

Copyright© Heufiguren: TVB Annaberg-Lungötz, Almabtrieb Titelbild: TVB Raurisertal (Florian Bachmeier), Almabtrieb in Radstadt: TVB Radstadt (Lorenz Masser), Hinterglemmer Bauernmarkt: saalbach.com

Verena Junger

Content Manager at ALPS RESORTS

Verena has been working in the tourism industry for more than 20 years and loves exploring Austria’s mountains. For the ALPS RESORTS blog, she writes about family vacations, vacation rentals, tips for day trips - and how to enjoy a relaxing self-catering vacation. More about Verena

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