Altöttinger Kirta

Bavaria's Upper Bavarian Autumn Folk Festival

The Altöttinger Kirta – dialect for "Kirchweih" (church consecration festival) – is one of the oldest and most traditional autumn folk festivals in Upper Bavaria. In the Catholic Marian pilgrimage site of Altötting, home of the famous Black Madonna and Bavaria's main pilgrimage destination, the Kirta holds a firm place in the festival calendar: it traditionally falls at the end of September / beginning of October, parallel to Munich's Oktoberfest, thus forming the Upper Bavarian counterpart to the "Wiesn" – smaller, more intimate, more regional.

Dultplatz as Festival Grounds

The venue is the Dultplatz, a historic market square in the center of Altötting. During the nine festival days, it hosts a festival tent, wine tavern, carousels, shooting galleries, Ferris wheel, bumper cars, and stalls of all kinds. The pilgrimage center with the Gnadenkapelle (Chapel of Grace) on Kapellplatz is just a few steps away – a mixture of folk festival and Marian devotion that can be experienced so directly nowhere else in Bavaria.

The Kirta Procession – Opening Parade

The emotional heart of the Kirta is the Kirta procession on Saturday afternoon at 2 PM. Starting from the town center, a festively decorated parade moves to the Dultplatz – with horse-drawn carriages, brass music bands, Upper Bavarian traditional costume groups, children's and youth groups, brewery wagons, and representatives of the participating clubs. Thousands line the streets. The official opening takes place at the festival tent with the traditional O'zapft is! (It's tapped!) – the Hell-Bräu brewery from the Altötting region has been the festival beer supplier for generations.

Kirtastadl and Altöttinger Weinlaube

Two central catering establishments characterize the festival grounds:

• The Kirtastadl – the large festival tent with Upper Bavarian specialty cuisine, Hell-Bräu festival beer, and daily changing live music (brass music, Schlager, pop covers, folk music)
• The Altöttinger Weinlaube – a wine tent with Franconian and Austrian wines, "Federweißer" (young wine), antipasti, and a quieter atmosphere

In addition, numerous stalls offer "Steckerlfisch" (grilled fish on a stick), roast chicken, sausages, crêpes, candied almonds, and gingerbread hearts.

Amusement Rides and Family Days

On the festival grounds, you'll find a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, chain carousel, Breakdance, wave swinger, haunted house, and children's carousels. Most Kirta families emphasize family days with reduced prices – each weekday of the Kirta has its own focus and promotions.

Altötting – Bavaria's Marian Shrine

Altötting, with around 13,000 inhabitants, is the district town of the Altötting district and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Central Europe. The "Black Madonna of Altötting" is venerated in the Gnadenkapelle – a statue that has been the spiritual heart of the town since the 14th century. The Kirta is more than just a folk festival: it is part of the annual cycle, the religious and secular identity of Altötting.