International Snow Festival
Visitors can enjoy a spectacular winter art competition that features hand carved sculptures made exclusively of ice, water and snow. Competitors participate in teams of 3, and are given just 3 days to create their masterpieces, which are then voted on by local residents and guests of the surrounding resorts. This year’s Snow Festival is scheduled to take place on January 13-15 in Innichen / San Candido, and the 18th through the 20th in San Vigilio.
Care’s – The Ethical Chef Days
This event, which features more than 100 of the world’s best chefs and international wine producers, is widely considered to be the gastronomic highlight of the South Tyrol area. This magnificent week-long gourmet event provides guests with the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities, from sports and entertainment to cooking lessons, cooking shows, wine tasting and pairings. Enjoy fantastic scenery, exciting events and the chance to sample some of the best cuisine in the world.
Christmas Markets
There is absolutely no better place to celebrate the holiday spirit than in the winter wonderland of the Dolomites. During this time, the landscape is transformed with holiday décor and twinkling lights that make the atmosphere absolutely dazzle. From mid-November through the beginning of January, the tiny mountain villages of Bolzano, Merano, Bressanone, Brunico, and Vipiteno all play host to unique markets that feature everything from traditional cuisine to amazing handcrafted treasures.
Horse-Drawn Sleigh Competitions
The horse-drawn sleigh races and horse parade have long been traditional events of the winter season in Alta Badia, with ancient origins that date back centuries. The Ladin people who have called the Dolomites home for generations take great pride in these competitions, which involve everything from world-class breeds of horses and magnificent hand-carved and intricately decorated sleighs. Over the last few years these traditional horse races with sleighs and skijöring have been brought back and can be enjoyed by spectators from around the globe. The races are then followed by a spectacular horse sleigh parade.
The Saint Leonhard Horse Parade, the “Leonardiritt”
This incredible horse parade features participants from five different Ladin valleys, and involves all the pomp and circumstance one can envision, including traditional costumes. There’s music, mouthwatering local delicacies and even a farmer’s market to peruse while experiencing some of the age-old traditions that have been carried out in this area of the world for centuries. The event’s namesake, Saint Leonhard, is the patron saint of the farmers, the artisans and particularly of the horses and the horsemen.
Cortina Winter Polo
Each year the elite participants of this prestigious event compete with one another to achieve the best record for speed, action and fair play. The game of winter polo is widely considered to be technically advanced and as such, attracts a very high caliber of both players and spectators from across the world. Participants compete on horseback on a playing field that’s blanketed by a layer of pristine white snow. The Dolomites village of Cortina d’Ampezzo provides the perfect location for this unique and unforgettable winter game, combining challenging play with picturesque backgrounds and breathtaking mountain views.
For more information go to www.dolomitemountains.com
