The Marlengo Apple Crown

The Grape Festival is staged in Merano/Meran every year, on the third weekend in October. Open-air concerts and the large procession with a number of decorated floats are the highlight of the traditional “Autumn in Merano” events program. But this year the large procession and the concerts take not place.

Of all the eye-catching floats on parade, the Apple Crown float from Marlengo/Marling tops them all. Made up of over half a ton of apples and 700 dianthus flowers, the Apple Crown float goes back as far as the Grape Festival in 1949 and still remains an integral part of the procession today. Even at the end of the Festival, the Apple Crown is kept on show for a few weeks at the Marlengo town square.

During the procession the float is drawn by four magnificent horses, of the local Haflinger breed. The Apple Crown float contains baskets filled with “Jonagold“ apples, which are handed out to enthusiastic spectators cheering the procession. The float also carries a number of children while six couples in traditional local costumes walk alongside, three on one side and the other three on the other. Each couple carries baskets brimming with typical autumn fare, such as apples, grapes and chestnuts.