As everyone knows, there’s plenty going on in Lech am Arlberg in winter – and not just on the ski slopes. The region around the Arlberg offers visitors a wide range of exciting events in winter, making a skiing holiday in Austria something truly special.
Every Wednesday from 7.30 pm, the Hotel Tannbergerhof hosts live local music. The three-piece band moves back and forth between the restaurant and the bar. Whilst traditional tunes are performed in the rustic Restaurant Martinstüberl – table reservations are essential – to accompany the excellent food, the Tannberg Bar invites guests to dance and creates a lively atmosphere – all unplugged!
As the days grow longer in March and April and the sun shines on the Tannbergerhof outdoor bar until around 5.30 pm, a live band will provide the perfect atmosphere every Thursday from 4 pm to round off a wonderful winter’s day.
Every year at the start of the winter season in early December, Lech enchants wine lovers and becomes a hub for a lifestyle of indulgence: the Wine and Indulgence Safari, held in the heart of Lech, offers tastings of Austrian and international wines at various venues. Numerous specialist and culinary events, as well as evening functions, make Lech a hub for wine lovers during this period. It’s ideal for enjoying the ski resort in the morning and then treating your taste buds, or as an alternative to winter hiking or cross-country skiing. Incidentally, our partner hotel – the Krone von Lech – hosts a number of top-class culinary events every time.
Take your family to visit Sky Space Lech, an art installation located 20 minutes’ walk along the winter hiking trail above Oberlech. It is an underground space bathed in the colours of the Lech, featuring an oval opening in the ceiling through which you can watch the spectacle in the sky from a bench. This is an unforgettable experience, particularly at sunrise or sunset. In bad weather, the opening is covered by a huge, gleaming steel dome and a light show begins. Ask about the regular guided tours.
In the run-up to Christmas, Vorarlberg is transformed into a particularly atmospheric winter wonderland. Things take on a particularly mystical air around 5 December. That’s when the Krampus parade takes place in Lech, Zug and Zürs, and St Nicholas brings a sparkle to the eyes of the little ones.
Frighteningly masked figures clad in shaggy furs, ringing noisy bells and carrying blazing torches parade through the streets. A thrilling spectacle blending tradition, thrills and Alpine customs. An experience you won’t forget in a hurry during your winter holiday in Lech.
When the villages and towns of Vorarlberg are bathed in warm light and the air is filled with the scent of mulled wine and cinnamon, a very special time begins. Lovingly designed Christmas markets throughout Vorarlberg invite visitors to experience the Advent season.
In Bregenz, Feldkirch, Bludenz and Dornbirn, visitors can look forward to festively decorated Christmas markets featuring arts and crafts, culinary specialities and atmospheric concerts. Each market has its own charm, ranging from traditional to romantic. The Christmas market in Lech is particularly idyllic, nestled in the snow-covered mountains of the Arlberg. Over three weekends in December, the church square is transformed into a winter village with brass band music, choirs and bonfires. For children, the Christ Child pays a visit at various stalls.
Would you like to experience art in a different way? Nestled in a thick, glistening layer of snow, you can stroll past 11 monumental sculptures around the Hotel Auriga. The Artwalk, created over the years by hotel owner Ingo Strolz in collaboration with artist Gabriele Brunner, offers a truly special winter walk. All these striking works of art, crafted from sturdy metal, invite you to marvel and reflect, symbolising the relationship between heaviness and lightness.
The "Weißer Ring" in the Ski Arlberg ski area is one of the most impressive ski circuits in the entire Alpine region. However, it is not only known as a sensational ski circuit, but above all as the world’s longest ski race, a distinction that has helped the "Weißer Ring" make a name for itself. Every year in mid-January, over 1,400 participants compete in a thrilling race covering 22 kilometres of slopes and around 5,500 metres of elevation gain from the Rüfikopf to Lech. Numerous celebrities take part each year. Numerous side events take place around this major event, such as the “Weißer Ring – Pre Party” on Friday or the “Night of the Winners” following the race on Saturday at the Tannberg Pub.
The Europaforum Lech brings together leading figures from the worlds of politics, business and academia to discuss the major issues of our time. Europe’s role in a changing world, climate protection, security and the digital transformation are just some of the topics addressed there. Every March, in the inspiring atmosphere of Lechwelten, discussions take place that have an impact far beyond the event itself. Lech becomes a place for reflection and exchange, nestled in the tranquillity of the Alps and the openness of an international audience.
“When swing tunes ring out from the heart of the ski resort and singers in 1930s outfits or musicians in rockabilly style take to the stage against a stunning mountain backdrop, when pulsating electro beats get the whole village moving and old-school jazz bands transform the hotel bars into dance halls, then the dance café fever has broken out again in Lech-Zürs.”, according to Lech Zürs Tourist Information.
It always happens in the first three weeks of April: guests and locals dance exuberantly just like in the old days, but to today’s music. Have you ever danced a boogie-woogie? At the Tanzcafé Arlberg Winter Music Festival, you certainly will! After dancing you will sink into the cosy comfort of your bed at the Hotel Tannbergerhof****?
In April, the Street Food Festival at the car park by the Trittkopf cable car in Zürs offers a culinary highlight for all the senses. Here, Alpine ingredients meet international street food creations. These are accompanied by live music, fresh mountain air and a relaxed atmosphere. From regional specialities to exotic delicacies, there is something to suit every taste. The festival is a meeting place for connoisseurs and foodies, as well as skiers, families and walkers. Easily accessible by local bus from the Hotel Tannbergerhof.
As the highlight of the season in April, the ‘Weingondeln’ in Lech am Arlberg has been a well-known event for several years running! This unique event features a wine tasting experience – available only in Lech am Arlberg – held in the gondolas of the Zugerbergbahn, complete with breathtaking views of the snow-capped Alps! Do you prefer winter hiking? No problem: this extraordinary tasting of fine wines from renowned Austrian vintners is also a culinary highlight for you, starting at 11:00 am in the gondola, as no ski equipment is required. Embark on a leisurely winter hike through the Zugerwald to the valley station of the Zugerbergbahn and then sample a variety of wines, champagnes and spirits. Afterwards, celebrate at the Balmalp until the legendary sunset. No one can provide you with such detailed information about this event as the Pfefferkorn brothers, owners of the 4* Hotel Tannbergerhof and the 5* Hotel Krone in Lech am Arlberg, as they are the inventors and founders of this successful event!
This is Beaver Creek, Hakuba, Kampen & Lech – Lech’s three partner resorts organise a spectacular evening every year to mark the end of the winter season at Lechwelten, open to everyone. On this unique evening, meet representatives from all four resorts and treat yourself to succulent steaks, North Sea prawns, Sylt oysters, delicate sushi and other delicacies, as well as local specialities! The Sister Resort Party at Lechwelten is a fixed event every year in mid-April for anyone who wants to celebrate in style and experience a varied evening featuring presentations of the resorts, live bands, DJs and much more.
Book your stay at the 4* Hotel Tannbergerhof directly online or make a no-obligation enquiry to experience the unique cultural and event highlights on offer in Lech this winter!
