Join in the fun and experience a Krampus parade in Austria or Germany. I share what to expect and tips on the best Krampus parades in the region, with confirmed dates for 2023.
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📕 What is a Krampus parade?
Krampus are mythical creatures that traditionally appear during the pre-Christmas period in Advent in the German-speaking alps in Europe.
They are demon-like creatures with scary unique wooden devil faced marks, wearing furs, and large cow bells.
As per the legend, Krampuses come in groups, which are also known as a Pass locally, and they accompany Saint Nicholas, who's dressed in red, like a roman catholic bishop with a pointy large hat.
Custom dictates that the Krampuses come to take the bad children, while Saint Nicholas (called St.Nikolaus or Heilige Nikolaus in German) rewards well-behaved kids by gifting them chocolates, oranges, and peanuts. And if you haven't made the connection yet, Saint Nicholas is the name giver to Santa Claus.
Originally, Krampus would show up on their day, the 5th of December, and Nicholas would appear on the 6th December. Yet, nowadays, they both appear at the same time on either days and that's the so-called Krampus parade.
A Krampus parade is better known as a Krampus run because they run and so will you at the sight of them! In German, they are also known as Krampuslauf (translates Krampus run) or Krampusumzug (Krampus parade)
Each village, town, and city organizes a Krampus run in the Austrian and German alps (and even beyond!) with some turning out larger and all the more spectacular every year.
INFO: The Krampus tradition is a legacy from the pre-Christian folklore heritage in the alps. A similar but very different tradition in the area, and often confused creatures, are the Perchten/Perchta (please see difference between Krampus and Perchten). These two nowadays tend to appear together side by side during a Krampus parade.
👹 What to expect?
Going to a Krampus parade is always exciting! Every Krampus parade is held in the main square of the village or town, which is usually situated near the main town church.
What may seem like an unorganized lot of Krampus, is a well coordinated town event. A security and an ambulance team are always present.
Taking part in a Krampus parade is always free of charge, EXCEPT if it's a larger gathering, and they advertised an entry on flyers and posters. Krampuses may move about freely, even beyond the fenced area. The only place they won't enter is obviously a church. Haha!
The center of the square serves as an entertainment stage for the Krampus, Saint Nicolaus and the angels. Locals and tourists attending the event stand behind the fenced off area.
All this includes a great entrance of the Krampus with electrifying loud music and a smoke and fire show. Most Krampus Passes count about 20 Krampus to the “team” and you might see an old Perchta witch too. Occasionally, a second or third Pass is invited.
Generally speaking, the show ends after 20 or so minutes, but the Krampus will still make their walking round to catch some kids or girls, while saint Nicholas and his helper angels distribute goodie bags to the kids.
Due to certain incidents of the past, all Krampus require wearing a number plate on the chest or back so that the misbehaving ones can be easily identified if needed. This has greatly reduced incidents.
Most probably, you will find stalls serving mulled wine and local food specialties to visitors, but this depends on the area, so I wouldn't count on it.
The experience with Children
As kids, we were fearful, apprehensive, and ready to face the devil. Local younger children attend a Krampus run with their parents, and kids older than 10 may also join in with their group of friends.
The only reason kids take the Krampus parade is that Nicholas gifts a bag of chocolate, oranges, peanuts, and walnuts, and you seriously wouldn't want to miss that. Especially if Saint Nicholas is praising you loudly in front of others with his escorts of angels.
Parents will take a chance to remind you as a child to be good or else Krampus will take you, and occasionally, they will complain to Saint Nicholas, but you will still get some sweets.
Older kids and youngsters tease the Krampus pass, and this is where the running comes to play.
Some “naughty” kids and youngsters get caught and put into a traditional back basket or a metal fenced area, or they get chained. It is not uncommon to see Krampus lash out with birch rods, and it's still part of the whole thing. Yet, it's not violent as per the local mind set.
Most Krampus are mindful of children. Especially when they can see that the kids are scared and crying. They will try to get closer to the child and make them comfortable in some way by putting some soot on their face or by giving a friendly pat on the head.
Furthermore, most areas are fenced and Krampus cannot get over the fence where the spectators stand, which is reassuring if you are a kid.
🧭 Where are Krampus Parades? (2023 Dates)
Krampus parades traditionally take place on the 5th or 6th of December every year. Yet, these dates are sometimes not fixed or extended to the days before or after the 5th and 6th.
The town shows usually start at 7 pm at the main town square, if not advertised at a different time. This applies to all Krampus parades across the borders. Larger gatherings start earlier and tend to be organized on other days than the 5th and the 6th.
You can take part and experience this tradition in the alpine villages and towns of Austria, Southern Germany, Liechtenstein, Northern Italy with South Tyrol and Trentino and Slovenia.
Furthermore, several other former countries of the Austrian Habsburg monarchy celebrate a Krampus version of their own, which includes Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Croatia.
Local varieties of the Krampus parade may differ across regions and borders. In Austria and Southern Germany, larger villages, towns, and cities organize a Krampus parade.
Here are our top must see Krampus parade recommendations:
The Biggest Processions in Austria
One of the biggest Krampusläufe in Austria can be experienced in Bad Goisern, a town in Upper Austria in the Salzkammergut area near Hallstatt. In 2023, it takes place on the 7th December at 7 pm onwards.
Spittal an der Drau in Carinthia arguably organizes currently the largest Krampus meat up in the alps. About 40 Pässe from all over the country are expected to show up on the 2nd of December at 6 pm.
In Southern Germany
The town of Berchtesgaden and neighboring villages, near Salzburg city, celebrates a special Krampus tradition. Here you can see the Buttnmandl, a straw wrapped Krampus.
Buttnmandln in Berchtesgaden, Southern Germany
The Buttnmandl are straw clad men wearing Krampus-like masks. They walk with St.Nikolaus in the afternoon of the 5th December.
Buttn is a Bavarian German word for rattling/shaking and mandl is a man. Incidentally, the job of the Buttnmandl is to purge the bad spirits by making rattling noises
You can experience the Buttnmandl on the Berchtesgaden city market square at about 2:30 and 3 pm on the 5th December. You will see them wandering the town at 2 pm already.
Neighboring villages have Buttnmandel of their own which are accompanied by an angel, or in Schönau am Königssee they have St. Nikolaus's wife. Only Bischofswiesen follows the old, pre-1950, tradition with the Buttnmandel appearing on the 24th of December, Christmas Eve.
You will also come across Krampus parades and shows in villages and towns in Bavaria. We recommend the ones in Traunstein district, and especially Ruhpolding has a few great Krampus parade shows.
In Northern Italy (South Tyrol)
Toblach in the Hochpustertal in South Tyrol is known for the oldest traditions and the biggest meat up of demon-like creatures. Head to Toblach on the 8th of December at 6 pm to see the more than 600 devils and creatures of the night.
The valley of Ahrntal in South Tyrol hosts one of the larger Krampus parades in Northern Italy. Head to the village of Steinhaus to the Klausberg parking lot on the 8th December. The fun will start at 7:30 pm and will continue until late night.
Modern with Fire Shows
The state of Tyrol in Austria is known for scary and realistic looking Krampuses. I can only recommend our town Krampus run in St. Johann in Tirol on the 5th December at 6:30 pm (not the same as St. Johann in Pongau, that's another town). It does get wild here!
Otherwise, just head to any high alpine village in Tyrol and you will most definitely come across a one-of-a-kind spectacle on the 5th or 6th December.
Most Unique and Traditional
If you are looking for a very traditional setting, go to East Tyrol or Carinthia.
Somehow, the church inquisition couldn't stop the age-old customs in the far off valleys, which resulted in unique practices, such as the Tischziachn in East Tyrol. You can see one in action on Saturday the 2nd December 2023 at 8:30 pm in the village of Nussdorf-Debant.
The wildest Krampus runs are known to be held in small Carinthian villages and if you are in Austria by the end of November, you might come across various Krampus parades across the state. The one in Villach is especially popular and over 40 groups have been announced to appear on the 1st December 2023 in the old town area at 6 pm.
In the Cities
Visits to Christmas markets can be combined with a Krampus run in the city of Salzburg, Innsbruck, or Munich. The demonic creatures literally move between the large Christmas market stalls, adding to the whole spectacle and fun.
Munich organizes a large and very popular Krampus parade on Sunday the 10th December. The event starts at the Sendlinger gate at 3 pm and over 300 Krampus walk up the street to the Marienplatz main square.
Salzburg keeps visitors busy with three Krampus dates. If you are in Salzburg on the 3rd, 5th or 6th December, you have a good chance to come across them wandering around the city. Saint Nikolaus can be seen on the 6th with some soft version of Krampuses for children at 3.:30 pm on the 6th of December in 2023.
Innsbruck organizes themed Krampus days for all visitors to the Tyrolean capital's old town. On the 4th of December in 2023, at 6:30 pm you get to see the unique, and much sought after, East Tyrolean Krampuse. The Nikolaus with Krampus will make an appearance on the 6th at 5 pm and on the 7th December at 6 pm is a Perchten run.
📷 Krampus Photos
Over the years, we have been to several Krampus parades. In fact, I experienced the largest Krampus gathering, which used to be organized every year back in the 2000s in St. Johann in Tirol.
The Krampus and Perchten meet ups used to take place in November with over 2000 creatures from 4 different countries and over 12,000 visitors. Various traditional costumes and masks could be admired at a Krampus event that would take hours to complete.
I have dug out some Krampus photos from back then. These events are ever evolving, and the Krampus shows are only getting better every year!
💭 FAQs
Who are the Krampus?
The Krampus are local young men (and sometimes kids) who dress up for the occasion once a year. They belong to a Pass, which is a Krampus group. Almost every village and town has a Krampus Pass in the Austrian, Southern German, North Italian (South Tyrol and Trentino), Slovenian, Liechtenstein alps. Each Krampus Pass has a name and a theme. For example, our Krampus Pass in St.Johann in Tirol wears black fur and red wooden face masks.
What's the difference between Krampus and Perchten?
Krampus resemble demons but have human face features with two animal horns. Krampus only appear during the advent period, that means before Christmas, and they are always ugly and stinky.
Perchten (aka Perchta/Berchta) are mythical pagan creatures that may predate the Roman annexation of Noricum and Raetia. Essentially, there are two main types of Perchten, the Schiachperchten, the ugly ones, and the Scheperchten, the pretty ones bringing luck. Traditions, the way they appear, the outfit and place, as well as the month of manifestation, depend enormously on old local set customs. Every district and village may have a different folklore. Generally speaking, schiach perchten have animal features and more than two horns, and they do look a lot like Krampus, which adds to the confusion.
Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see some Schiachperchten with Krampus in a Krampus parade. So, you might spot some Perchten at a Krampus run. Yet, both the Krampus and Perchten are separate traditions.
What's the Krampus costume?
The Krampus costume consists of a hand carved wooden mask. Every mask is unique and may represent a pass or region. The wooden masks are hand carved from oak or linden wood and painted by masters of the art profession in the alps. Several such masters can be found scattered in villages, and a few are in the wood carving village of Oberammergau. Fans of the art form collect Krampus masks.
The costume is incomplete without a full-body fur, which is a stinky goat or sheep skin, and a large, loud cow bell. Claws, cow tails and hooves, are additional accessories for the Christmas demons. Most Krampus run around with a birch rod, which serves as a whip, or other metal equipment and chains to add to the dramatic effect.
A single original Krampus costume costs over €1800 with a unique mask, fur, and bells. Each piece of the costume can be purchased separately from a wooden mask hand carver, leather seller or tanner, and cow bell maker in the regions where the Krampus tradition exists. Masks can weigh 22 pounds/ 10 kilogram.
🇦🇹 German to English Krampus Words
You might come across certain terms when attending a Krampus run and these terms might vary between regions and dialects. So, I thought this quick handy summary of translated words might help demystify the world of Krampus parades.
| German | English |
| Krampus, Gangal, Toife, Teufel | all and the same word describing Krampuses and them being equal to the devil. The use of the word depends on the region. |
| Krampusumzug | Krampus festival/parade |
| Krampuslauf | Krampus run |
| Pass, Pässe or Bass, Bässe | A group of Krampus and the equivalent plural form. In Austria and Italy they say Pass/Pässe and in Germany, it's Bass or Bässe. |
| Krampusnacht | The night when Krampus parades take place, which is the 5th of December. |
| Perchten, Perchta, Bechta, | Folklore spirits sometimes confused with Krampus. They are not the same thing. Perchten can appear in many different shapes and forms. The so-called ugly Perchta (Schiachperchten) may resemble Krampus, but they have animal faces. |
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