CULTURE FOR HEART AND SOUL – SUMMER IN SAALFELDEN LEOGANG

This summer, the most contrasting habitat in the Alps offers a varied programme of music and culture. In addition to the famous jazz festival Saalfelden, the theatre summer Saalfelden Leogang takes place, the Kunsthaus Nexus presents many concert and theatre series. Treasures of the past can be admired in the two museums and in the show mine, and the annual customs return to the region this summer, such as the summer solstice and the peasant autumn. 

42nd Jazzfestival Saalfelden from 18 - 21 August 2022

60 concerts – 4 days – 150 artists – 10 locations

For over 40 years, the Jazzfestival Saalfelden has been a meeting place for the international jazz scene, where there is always something new and innovative to discover. The combination of breathtaking scenery and experimental sounds attracts visitors from all over the world to the small town on the Steinerne Sea every August. On these four days, international artists will perform new and already established stages in and around Saalfelden. Saalfelden understands jazz less as a style of music than as a synonym for openness and freedom, for musical crossing of boundaries and experimentation. Visitors can expect great musicians like Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few, Alba Careta Group, Christoph Cech's Jazz Orchestra Project, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra & Jason Moran, Fabian Rucker, Ted Poor & Cuong Vu, Katharina Ernst, Vincent Courtois, The Vijay Iyer Trio, Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra, Emilé Parisien Sextet "Louise" feat. Theo Croker, L.U.M.E – Lisbon Underground Music Ensemble, Paal Nilssen-Love “Circus” and much more! Among the various venues are the Congress Saalfelden, the Kunsthaus Nexus and the Otto-Gruberhalle, an empty industrial hall from the 1950s. In addition to the indoor venues, concerts will also take place in the open air – as in the already established park, and musical hikes on the mountain are again on the agenda. More than half of the concerts are free again this year! 

ALM:CULTURE: Tradition meets modernity

In July ALM:KULTUR will start again under the motto “Tradition meets modernity”. Every Friday from 15.07. - 09.09.2022 various art and cultural projects will take place on the surrounding alpine pastures. Among them are concerts in a wide variety of styles up to various workshops, such as a photo hike over the high path to the Argenbauernalm on 22.07.2022 or a music hike to the Steinalm on 05.08.2022. 

SOUNDTRACKS: Enjoy music at sunset on the mountain 

In addition to the TONspur islands, which are located all year round between the mountain station and the summit Asitz, the popular TONspur concerts will take place again this summer. On five Thursdays between June 30 and August 18, different bands and musicians play: at sunset on an outdoor stage at the foot of the Great Asitz with a breathtaking view. In case of bad weather, it is diverted to the Asitzbru. 

Kunsthaus Nexus: lots of concert series, cinema and theatre

The Kunsthaus Nexus in Saalfelden is an integral part of the Pinzgau cultural scene with a diverse offer for young and old. Cinema for kids and Gschnagga theatre for the little ones, clubbings and band contests for the youth, jazz concerts, blues, rock and metal events, exhibitions in the Kunsthalle, programme cinema, literature, lectures, theatre and cabaret – the programme leaves nothing to be desired. At the Jazzfestival Saalfelden from 18 to 21 August, the Kunsthaus Nexus will again be one of the central stages.

Regionality Fair: local products in the foreground

On 26.06.2022 the 7th Regionality Fair will take place in Saalfelden. Between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. there is a wide selection of local products to browse, taste and buy, such as liqueurs, brandies, stone and wood crafts and decorative goods, natural herbal cosmetics, cheeses, bacon and sausages, organic natural furniture, wild herbs and much more. At 14:00 all visitors have the chance to listen to a lecture by Mag. Alexander Ohms on "Austria in Climate Change – from Measurement Data of the Present to the Scenario of the Future". The lecture sheds light on the topic of climate forecasts and explores the question of how possible changes in the coming decades could affect Austria.

On the summer solstice: the game of fire on the mountain 

Every year the traditional fire game takes place on the mountain. On June 18th, the mountain ridges will be illuminated again to drive away the evil spirits. The ancient custom is also supposed to “foster” growth and fertility on meadows and fields. The tradition can also be witnessed at various events in Saalfelden Leogang. Either you enjoy the solstice festival at the Ritzensee, the solstice fire at the Asitz or the “fire performance” with Thomas Girbl and musical accompaniment at the Hotel PURADIES. 

Kulturverein FRERAUM: nature romantic, culture-loving & communal 

The Kulturverein FRERAUM wants to promote grown and new culture on site and offer artists the opportunity to develop themselves. This year, the art trail at the Asitz will be filled with works by Adriana Franza, who conveys in her works the connection with her native Sicily. In addition, FRERAUM also organizes the already mentioned “fire performance” with Thomas Girbl and e.g. A reading with the editor-in-chief Florian Klenk.

Theatre summer in Saalfelden Leogang

In the Saalfelden Leogang region, the theme of theatre is important. This year, the theater summer begins with "Thinderella" on June 8. This year, the Theatre Ecce will once again enrich the region with a workshop for children and youth and two plays, e.g. Henry Miller's poetic fable "The Smile at the Foot of the Ladder" runs through Aug. 14. 

Mining and Gothic Museum Leogang - 30 years of history

This summer takes place between 12.05. - 31.10. The special exhibition “Screw Medals – Salzburger Geschichte in Silver” will be held at the Mining and Gothic Museum Leogang. The unique exhibition will be presented on the occasion of the 290th anniversary of Salzburg’s emigrants, who had to leave their homeland in 1732. The exhibition will feature curious works of baroque crafts, so-called “Screw Medals”, which contain a dramatic chapter of Salzburg’s history. 
Another special exhibition is called “Pearls of Gothic”, which will be on view from 24.06.2022 due to the 30th anniversary. The Stiftung Vogl-Reitter from Kitzbéhel exhibits its private collection in Leogang. Among them are a total of 50 panel paintings, sculptures, reliefs and furniture from the Gothic period. The collection is complemented by objects on loan from Belvedere Vienna, the Christian Museum Esztergom and the Diocesan Museum Bamberg. With the preservation, retrieval and unification of Salzburg’s cultural assets, the developed special areas of the last decades are made visible in an exhibition. 

Museum Saalfelden in the castle Ritzen

The museum in Saalfelden in Schloss Ritzen is also unique. At the moment there is a special exhibition on the anniversary of 100 years of mountain rescue Saalfelden and Maria Alm, which can be admired until 26.02.2023. Another special exhibition can also be visited until the end of June: the Saalfelden artist Ernst Trybula shows his particularly artistic inlay works (inlays). He uses different wood veneers and you are amazed at what great artistry he displays. In addition to the numerous special exhibitions, you can also permanently immerse yourself in the history of Saalfelden.