Bonfires in the Montafon
One of the oldest customs in the Montafon is the traditional "Funken" ("spark").
When fire drives away winter and welcomes spring.
One of the oldest customs in the Montafon: on the first Sunday after carnival, the flames of the sparks blaze up to 30 meters high into the sky. The "demons of winter" are driven away and the increasing light of spring is welcomed with the burning of sparks and the swinging of torches - a ritual full of symbolism and tradition.
Funken Dates 2026
Bartholomäberg
| Bartholomäberg, Widum | |||
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 12:00 | Bartholomäberg, Widum | Funkenwache with refreshments |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | from 11:00 | Bartholomäberg, Widum | Catering (highlight: Funkenteller/Grillteller) |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 6:00 | Bartholomäberg, Widum | Harmoniemusik Bartholomäberg |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 7:00 | Bartholomäberg, Widum | Spark burning with torch swinging |
| Bartholomäberg, Plattafunka | |||
| Friday, February 20, 2026 | from 1:00 | Bartholomäberg, Plattafunka | Spark building (children welcome) |
| Friday, February 20, 2026 | from 7:00 p.m. | Bartholomäberg, Plattafunka | Bonfire watch with refreshments (heated bonfire hut) |
| Friday, February 20, 2026 | from 8:00 | Bartholomäberg, Plattafunka | Duo "Die jungen Walgauer" (folk music & Austropop) |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 11:00 | Bartholomäberg, Plattafunka | Catering (heated Funkenhütte) |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. | Bartholomäberg, Plattafunka | Torch building with children (costs covered by the association) |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Starting at 6:30 | Bartholomäberg, Plattafunka | Lighting of the Trätzfunkas (small spark) & torch swinging (children) |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 7:00 | Bartholomäberg, Plattafunka | Bonfire with refreshments |
| Bartholomäberg, Gantschier | |||
| Friday, February 20, 2026 | from 7:00 | Bartholomäberg, Gantschier | Refreshments in the heated marquee |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 9:30 | Bartholomäberg, Gantschier | Torch building and Trätzfunkenbau (small spark) for children |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 7:30 | Bartholomäberg, Gantschier | Torchlight procession and colorful festivities with the Gantschierner Häxa |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 8 | Bartholomäberg, Gantschier | Bonfire with refreshments |
| Bartholomäberg, Riederhof | |||
| Friday, February 20, 2026 | from 3:00 | Bartholomäberg, Riederhof | Spark guard with refreshments |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 7:00 | Bartholomäberg, Riederhof | Bonfire with refreshments |
Gaschurn-Partenen
| Gaschurn, Funkenplatz | |||
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 2:00 p.m. | Gaschurn, Funkenplatz | Bonfire building for all children |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 6:00 | Gaschurn, Funkenplatz | Burning of the children's bonfire; followed by music in the heated bonfire hut with refreshments |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | from 2:00 | Gaschurn, Funkenplatz | Refreshments |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 8:00 | Gaschurn, Funkenplatz | Bonfire; musical accompaniment (Gaschurn-Partenen brass band); free wooden torches for children |
| Partenen, Funkenplatz | |||
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 2: | Partenen, bonfire site | Torch building with the children |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from | Partenen, Funkenplatz | Bonfire watch with refreshments |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | from 7:00 p.m. | Partenen, Funkenplatz | Torch swinging |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 8:00 | Partenen, Funkenplatz | Bonfire |
Lorüns
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Starting at 3:00 p.m. | Lorüns, Funkenplatz | Funkenwache with refreshments |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | All day | Lorüns, Funkenplatz | Refreshments |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 7:00 | Lorüns, Funkenplatz | Bonfire |
Schruns
| Schruns, Gamplaschg | |||
| Friday, February 20, 2026 | from 7:30 p.m. | Schruns, Gamplaschg | Funkenwache with refreshments |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 2:00 p.m. | Schruns, Gamplaschg | Refreshments |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 7:00 | Schruns, Gamplaschg | Bonfire |
| Schruns, Rainweg | |||
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | From 11:00 | Schruns, Rainweg | Catering |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 7:00 p.m. | Schruns, Rainweg | Funkenwache |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | All day | Schruns, Rainweg | Catering |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 7:00 | Schruns, Rainweg | Bonfire |
| Schruns, Gamprätz | |||
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 12:00 | Schruns, Gamprätz | Catering |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 7:00 p.m. | Schruns, Gamprätz | Bonfire watch with campfire |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | from 11:00 | Schruns, Gamprätz | Torch building with children (registration required) |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | from 11:00 | Schruns, Gamprätz | Refreshments |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 7:45 | Schruns, Gamprätz | Lighting of the Trätzfunkas (small spark); musical accompaniment (Schruns brass band) |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 8:00 | Schruns, Gamprätz | Burning of the spark |
Silbertal
| Silbertal, fire station | |||
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 1:00 p.m. | Silbertal, fire station | Catering |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 7:30 | Silbertal, fire station | Musical accompaniment (Silbertal brass band) |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 8:00 | Silbertal, fire station | Raffle, followed by bonfire |
| Silbertal, Brunnafeld | |||
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Silbertal, Brunnafeld | ||
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Silbertal, Brunnafeld | ||
| Silbertal, Bronnahus Kristberg | |||
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | from 4:00 p.m. | Silbertal, Bronnahus Kristberg | Catering |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 7:00 | Silbertal, Bronnahus Kristberg | Bonfire |
| Silbertal, Kristberg Panorama Inn | |||
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 7:15 | Silbertal, Kristberg Panorama Inn | Bonfire with refreshments |
St. Anton in Montafon
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Starting at 11:00 | St. Anton i.M., Funkenplatz | Catering |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 8:00 p.m. | St. Anton i.M., Funkenplatz | "Hexenbar" open |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 7:00 | St. Anton i.M., Funkenplatz | Bonfire with refreshments |
St. Gallenkirch-Gortipohl
| St. Gallenkirch, Funkenplatz St. Gallenkirch | |||
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 10:00 | St. Gallenkirch, Funkenplatz St. Gallenkirch | Construction of the children's bonfire & creation of the bonfire witch |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 6:30 | St. Gallenkirch, Funkenplatz St. Gallenkirch | Children's bonfire burning; followed by bonfire watch with bar service |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | from | St. Gallenkirch, Funkenplatz St. Gallenkirch | Refreshments & fresh Funka-Küachli |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | from 7:30 p.m. | St. Gallenkirch, Funkenplatz St. Gallenkirch | Traditional torch swinging & lighting of the bonfire (with St. Gallenkirch town band) |
| Gortipohl, Schattenort Gortipohl | |||
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | From 2:00 | Gortipohl, Schattenort Gortipohl | Construction of the children's spark |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 7:00 | Gortipohl, Schattenort Gortipohl | Kinderfunken burning; live music (Romantik Express) & traditional target shooting (targets €1.50) |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | from 2:00 | Gortipohl, Schattenort Gortipohl | Refreshments in heated tent |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | At nightfall | Gortipohl, Schattenort Gortipohl | Traditional target shooting (targets €1.50) |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 8:30 | Gortipohl, Schattenort Gortipohl | Bonfire |
Tschagguns
| Tschagguns, Mauren | |||
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 6:00 p.m. | Tschagguns, Mauren | Funkenwache with refreshments (heated Funkenbude) |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | from 11:00 | Tschagguns, Mauren | Refreshments |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | from 2:00 | Tschagguns, Mauren | Funka-Küachli (heated spark hut) |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 7:45 | Tschagguns, Mauren | Bonfire; musical accompaniment (Tschagguns brass band) |
| Tschagguns, Krista | |||
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 6:00 | Tschagguns, Krista | Bonfire guard with refreshments |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 7:30 | Tschagguns, Krista | Bonfire with refreshments |
| Tschagguns, Latschau | |||
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | from 6:00 | Tschagguns, Latschau | Refreshments |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 7:00 | Tschagguns, Latschau | Bonfire; musical accompaniment (Tschagguns brass band) |
Vandans
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | from 7:00 p.m. | Vandans, Funkenplatz swimming pool | Bonfire watch with large campfire and refreshments |
| Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 7:00 | Vandans, Funkenplatz swimming pool | Bonfire with refreshments; musical accompaniment (Vandans brass band) & torch dance (traditional costume group) |
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Construction
The construction requires a lot of work, averaging 700 to 800 hours. The spark guilds build the spark tree and stack wood around it. The carefully stacked woodpile is then filled with brushwood, straw and old Christmas trees. - Bonfire guard
On Saturday night, a spark watch keeps an eye on things to ensure that the wooden structure is not set alight prematurely by lads from neighbouring villages. However, this traditional prank is more than just a minor offence and is now even punishable by law. -
Burning
At nightfall, the spark is finally lit under the watchful eyes of the villagers.
The bonfire specialty
"To ensure that the sweet Funka-Küachli turn out perfectly, keep pouring hot fat over them in the pan or toss them carefully."
Erich Morscher from Tschagguns
To the recipeSmall but mighty - the mini sparks
The "Funken" tradition is now also available in miniature - with the handmade mini sparks.
The project has been run by Caritas Werkstätte Montafon since 2024. For the participants, it is more than just craftsmanship - it is meaningful work that encourages and brings joy. Based on the principle of "learning by doing", unique mini sparks are created that are made with a lot of passion.
Take a piece of Montafon home with you - the mini sparks are available now.
Did you know that...
target shooting in Gortipohl has been declared a UNESCO intangible heritage site?
Unique in the Montafon: target shooting in Gortipohl has been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. Originally a pagan ritual, it is now an important part of village life - and has been on UNESCO's list of national cultural heritage since June 2016.
Learn more