Next dates
2027 dates not yet announced — typically around September. We're watching and will update this page when they land.
More than five hundred cattle descend from three Alpine pastures into this small Allgäu village on the season's cattle drive — no festival tent.
Bolsterlang's Viehscheid brings herds from three alps in three waves: about 140 cattle from Alpe Hinteregg at 9:30, 177 from Alpe Zunkleiten at 10:45, and 232 from Alpe Bolgen at 12:15 (549 total). Herds wear the traditional flower crowns awarded when a summer passes without loss or injury. There is no festival tent — food and drink are still available at the Scheidplatz by the Dorflift. A smaller, more local alternative to the bigger Oberstdorf and Immenstadt cattle drives.
The full story
On September 22, 2026, the three herds that summered on Bolsterlang's alpine pastures come down to the Scheidplatz, next to the village Dorflift, for the annual Viehscheid. The first herd — 140 head from Alpe Hinteregg — arrives at 9:30 a.m., followed by 177 from Alpe Zunkleiten at 10:45 and 232 from Alpe Bolgen at 12:15, for 549 cattle across the day.
Unlike some of the larger Allgäu cattle drives nearby, Bolsterlang's version has no festival tent — food and drinks are sold at the Scheidplatz itself, and the event stays close to its working-village roots.
A herd that made it through the alpine summer without an accident or loss may come down led by a Kranzrind — an animal decorated with a wreath of flowers and greenery. It's a tradition tied to the season's outcome, not a guarantee for every herd every year.
Other Allgäu cattle drives: Viehscheid Immenstadt. More Swabia events.
On Tap
- Local focus
- Simple food-and-drink stands at the Scheidplatz after the cattle come down from the Alps — no Festzelt, no beer-tent scale.
- What to try
- A drink and a simple plate from the food stands at Scheidplatz once the herds arrive — don't expect a beer-tent-style pour list.
- Food pairing
- Kässpatzen with Bergkäse — the classic Allgäu comfort plate after hours on the hillside.
- Best for
- Photographers and hikers who want an authentic cattle-drive day without Oberstdorf-scale crowds.
- Bavaria On Tap take
- Bolsterlang is where you watch three herd waves (549 cattle), then stay for a simple food-and-drink stop at Scheidplatz — no festival tent.
Practical tips
The English-language details German fest pages usually skip.
- What to wear
- Outdoor footwear and warm layers — this is an open-air village gathering around livestock, not an indoor event.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a festival tent at Bolsterlang's Viehscheid?
- No — unlike some neighboring Allgäu cattle drives, Bolsterlang has no festival tent; food and drinks are sold at the Scheidplatz itself.
- What does the flower-crown decoration mean?
- A decorated lead animal (Kranzrind) may lead a herd home when the alpine summer passed without an accident or loss — it's a conditional honor, not guaranteed every year.
- Free entry