Wallgau Alpine Festival with Cattle Drive

Cattle Drive with Alpine Festival in Wallgau

The Wallgau Cattle Drive with Alpine Festival is one of the most traditional farmers' festivals in the Karwendel Alpine World. In 2026, the Wallgau Pasture Community, together with the Wallgau Volunteer Fire Brigade, invites you on Saturday, September 5, from 11:00 AM to the Arena in der Witter.

Arrival of the Animals Around 12:30 PM

The highlight of the cattle drive is the arrival of the cattle from the surrounding alpine pastures – traditionally between 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM. Those who don't want to wait for the livestock in the valley can experience the summer stay on the alpine pastures days before with hikes around Wallgau.

Program and Catering

The Wallgau Volunteer Fire Brigade is responsible for catering and focuses on hearty Bavarian cuisine:

• Barbecue specialties from the fire brigade
• Fire brigade 'Howa' (homemade classics)
• Kartoffelschmarrn as a hearty Bavarian specialty
• Coffee and homemade cakes from the Wallgau farmers' wives
• Brass music for the festive atmosphere

Cattle Drive as Alpine Tradition

The Almabtrieb (also called Viehscheid or Heimfahren) is the traditional return of the cattle from the summer pastures on the alpine meadows to the valley. If the summers have passed without losses, the animals are decorated with flowers and cowbells – the so-called Aufkranzen. If any cattle have met with an accident, no decorations are used. This custom is part of Bavaria's intangible cultural heritage.

Wallgau in the Karwendel Alpine World

Wallgau is located in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district, nestled between the Karwendel and Estergebirge mountains on the Bavarian Alps Road. With just over 1,400 inhabitants, Wallgau is part of the Alpenwelt Karwendel tourist region (together with Mittenwald and Krün). The Walchensee and Isar region is known for its turquoise mountain lakes, Karwendel peaks, and well-preserved traditions.

Highlight of the Farmers' Weeks

The Wallgau cattle drive is part of the Farmers' Weeks of the Karwendel Alpine World, during which Mittenwald, Krün, and Wallgau host cattle drives and farmers' festivals in different weeks. Wallgau consciously focuses on a small, authentic cattle drive with a manageable herd – in contrast to large tourist cattle drives in other Allgäu towns.