Puch Autumn Festival – a review in pictures

Pucher Autumn Festival – wonderful moments & many highlights

On Sunday, 21 September, the Pucher community gathered for the traditional Autumn Festival, which is organised every two years by the municipality of Puch. In glorious autumn weather, the municipal car park and the forecourt behind the municipal office were transformed into a lively centre of joy and conviviality. With the tireless support of 18 dedicated clubs, institutions and organisations, the festival offered an unforgettable day for young and old alike. From the festive mass to the exuberant stage programme, every facet of the festival reflected the unique cohesion of our village.

Thanks to "Unser schönes Puch" for the fantastic drone footage!

From the Pucher Grillfreunde barbecue club to the D'Puachstoana traditional costume association, from the volunteer fire brigades to the Puch brass band – the list of contributors is long and impressive. Each association contributed with great commitment to making this festival a complete success. The countless culinary delicacies and attractions were not only a treat for the palate and the eyes, but also a testament to the passion of the volunteers. I captured this wonderful day in many pictures and videos and have already published some of them on Instagram at @visitpuch (Highlight Herbstfest 2025). I am happy to share with you here the most beautiful impressions and moments from the Pucher Herbstfest 2025.

A solemn start: the festive mass

The festivities began with a contemplative mass in the idyllic garden of the Maurerbauer farm next to the parish church in Puch. Under the open sky, surrounded by autumnal nature, Father Markus Danner celebrated mass with the altar boys, giving the entire celebration a dignified and festive start. The Puch brass band provided the appropriate musical accompaniment and created a devotional atmosphere that put the visitors in the right mood for the day ahead. A dreamlike backdrop in autumnal colours for a festive mass in Puch.

A culinary journey through the regional specialities of Puch

Visitors to the Puch Autumn Festival embarked on a delightful journey of discovery of a special kind. From savoury delicacies to sweet temptations – the variety of food on offer was simply overwhelming.

The Puch barbecue enthusiasts enticed visitors with the irresistible aroma of succulent spare ribs and crispy baked potatoes. A real treat for all barbecue lovers. No less popular was the field kitchen of the Kameradschaft Puch, which spread warmth and well-being with a hearty stew. The Historische Schützenkompanie Puch served not only cool Stiegl beer, but also delicious Kaskrainer sausages, and the Pucher Jägerschaft offered a special delicacy: delicious game burgers, which attracted attention with their unique taste. For those who preferred something more traditional, the St. Jakob stick shooters invited guests to feast on their grilled cutlets. FC Puch was also on hand to serve hot dogs.

Not only hearty fare – such as the hot Leberkäse from the Pucher Stockschützen or the delicious rolls from the Pucher Pensionisten – was available to enjoy, but those with a sweet tooth were also well catered for. The Pucher parish council and church choir had prepared a wonderful selection of coffee and cake. The Pucher senior citizens enticed guests with the aroma of freshly baked farmer's doughnuts, whose golden brown colour and fluffy taste were simply irresistible. And the Pucher farmers' wives delighted guests with their traditional Pofesen and hearty meat doughnuts with sauerkraut. As the crowning finale, the D'Puachstoana traditional costume association offered refreshing ice cream from Schmiedbauer in Bad Vigaun and golden brown baked cheese dumplings as vegetarian burgers or with coleslaw.

All of the clubs mentioned provided guests with a wide variety of beverages, from various types of beer to different soft drinks, hot coffee and the finest wines – everything was there. The Original Pucher Krampusse also had a wheat beer bar, the Sportschützen served delicious sangria, and the Puch Volunteer Fire Brigade served beer straight from their vintage vehicle – the old Open Blitz.

Fun and adventure for the whole family

The autumn festival not only offered the finest cuisine, but also an impressive supporting programme. The eyes of the younger guests lit up at the sight of the two giant bouncy castles, where they could let off steam to their hearts' content. Another absolute highlight was the opportunity to take a ride in the fire engine belonging to the Puch Volunteer Fire Brigade – an unforgettable adventure for every little hero.

The Kinderfreunde conjured up little works of art on the children's faces with their face painting, from colourful butterflies to fearsome tigers. Things got sporty at the FC Puch dart goal wall, where little football fans could show off their skills. The Hallein Fencing Club thrilled visitors with fascinating demonstrations and invited the curious to try their hand at fencing. Craft lovers were also in for a treat: the Puch brass band had set up a creative craft station where children eagerly created little works of art.

But it wasn't just the little ones who got their money's worth. The Puch Historical Rifle Company created a lively atmosphere for the adults with a beer slide and a skittles game. Their photo wall and that of the D'Puachstoana traditional costume association also provided variety at the autumn festival. In addition, many funny Polaroids were taken of the creative costumes of the Puch theatre group, and the Hallein fencing club showed off their best skills in a demonstration.

A highlight for many was certainly the air rifle shooting in the garage of the municipal office. At the Puch shooting club, brave souls could test their accuracy at the professional shooting range. After three practice shots, ten shots were counted. With my 88 points, I didn't do too badly. And the photo taken there speaks for itself about the Puch Autumn Festival – four clubs can be seen in one picture, demonstrating the community spirit and cohesion in the village.

Music and dance: the stage programme

The stage programme also provided excellent entertainment at the Puch Autumn Festival. At the start, the Puch brass band provided the perfect musical accompaniment to the Stiegl beer tapping ceremony with Mayor Barbara Schweitl and the first delicacies with their traditional morning pint concert. Their sounds filled the festival grounds and created a wonderful, cosy atmosphere.

In the afternoon, the D'Puachstoana traditional costume association delighted the audience with a lively folk dance performance that charmingly celebrated the culture and tradition of the region. Their lively dances and Schuhplattler earned them loud applause. The Puch-Oberalm hunting horn players could also be heard at the Pucher Jägerschaft stand. The grand finale of the festival was the performance by Powerparty, who kept visitors dancing until late into the evening with their live music.  

Thanks to "Unser schönes Puch" for the fantastic drone footage!

An unforgettably beautiful autumn day in Puch near Salzburg

Thanks to "Unser schönes Puch" for the fantastic drone footage!

The Puch Autumn Festival 2025 was once again more than just an event in Puch – it was a communal experience that impressively showcased the strengths and warmth of our town. Congratulations to everyone involved, the municipality of Puch and the tireless helpers from the clubs, whose commitment made this festival possible. It was a day to remember – full of laughter, culinary delights and many warm encounters.

I captured the best moments for you and will conclude my post with a few more snapshots – but your own memories are still the best! If you would like to share any of them, I look forward to your comments or links on Instagram at @visitpuch!

This is the way to Puch near Hallein in Salzburg's Tennengau region: