You can visit a particularly beautiful St. Nicholas celebration on November 29, 2026 in Obertraun on the shores of Lake Hallstatt.

Bright-eyed children await St. Nicholas

When the children of the village of Obertraun gather on the shores of Lake Hallstatt one evening at the end of November, St. Nicholas is expected. This is a very special moment, because in Obertraun St. Nicholas arrives on a cart, the typical wooden boat on Lake Hallstatt.

He is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, who has apples, nuts and chocolate in a large sack, and the Obertraun brass band .

The gentle lapping of the lake increases the children's excitement and anticipation until the carriage with St. Nicholas finally emerges slowly from the darkness of the night and reaches the shore of the lake.
With shining eyes, the children recite a poem to St. Nicholas. They receive a gift from St. Nicholas and then he disappears with his carriage back into the waters of Lake Hallstatt.

To shorten the waiting time, the flute children from the music school and some young musicians from Obertraun play on the shore.

To warm up, there is a punch and cookie stand.
This year there is once again the opportunity to visit a small but lovely Christmas market from 14:30!
St. Nicholas comes when it's time!

The Krampus stays at home on this day.

Experience a 360° panoramic tour of Obertraun...