Christmas in St Anton am Arlberg

St Anton opens its ski season at the beginning of December – and there is plenty going on away from the ski runs during that month.

The first advent celebration is on 01 December with Advent Magic in the Park and there are five more dates before Christmas Eve.

A Christmas Experience Trail near the St. Anton Museum has stops where visitors can linger and snack on the typical local “Kiachla” specialities. Children can make handicrafts in the Wichtelstube or bake their favourite cookies while locals tell Christmas tales in a forest hut.

The Krampalar run in St Anton
The Krampalar in St Anton am Arlberg
© TVB St. Anton am Arlberg | Thomas Klimmer

A few weeks before Christmas, visitors can experience an ancient custom in St Anton. On the evening of 05 December 2019, young lads in frightening outfits accompany St Nicholas through the village streets at the Arlberg Pass Krampalar Run.

The Krampalar, as the terrifying figures are known in the region, stand out with their creepy masks and their “devil’s skin”. Watch out if you weren’t well-behaved this year.

This winter the tourist office, the lift company and one of the local ski schools have organised a regular re-enactment of the history of skiing in St Anton, with the weekly open-air event “Schneetreiben”

The premiere will be on 30 December and then weekly on Wednesdays from 08 January. Entry is free to watch the performance by 150 participants.

More information: www.stantonamarlberg.com

Discover more about St Anton on our ski resort pages