Every year, a small village in the Lungau region of Salzburg hosts an unusual Easter tradition: the Gonesrennen. You could think of it as a kind of game of tag for adults. It was originally intended as a way to matchmake among the hard-working rural population, but nowadays it’s seen more as a fun festival.
Until a few years ago, the Gonesrennen was also held in the neighboring villages around Tamsweg. Today, Wölting—a village with a population of 200—is the only community where this tradition is still actively practiced.
The whole village comes together
It’s all happening on Easter Monday afternoon. The residents gather in a large square near the fire station. Almost everyone contributes to the celebration by bringing cakes or drinks. The proceeds go to the village community and the fire department, which helps organize the event. Among the spectators are a few tourists who have heard about this exotic custom in the media.
While the audience is entertained by the local brass band, the first participants are already taking their places. They already know what they’re getting into. Nevertheless, organizers Markus Lüftenegger and Bernhard Wieland briefly go over the procedure and rules once more.
Gonesrennen is a game of tag for grown-ups
In the "Gones" race, several couples line up one behind the other. A man stands alone at the very front. He shouts the chant:"Gones, Gones, Kikeriki, the last couple, come to me." The last couple then runs past him from the left and right sides. The goal is to catch the woman before she rejoins her partner.
It’s very important that the “Gones” isn’t allowed to turn around to see which side the woman is running on. Now he tries to catch her and, so to speak, snatch her away from her original partner. The loser then becomes the next “Gones.”
It isn't taken very seriously
Players really get creative during the game. They use mirrors, squint, wear mirrored sunglasses, or simply ignore the rules. However, no one takes this event too seriously— it’s all about having fun. Anyone can join in; you don’t have to be a native of Wöltingen.
The Gonesrennen was originally intended to bring two lonely hearts together. After all, life as a mountain farmer was hard, and there was little time left to look for love. In a playful way, quite a few maids and farmhands did end up finding each other this way.
Unfortunately, there are no records detailing the exact origins of the first Gones race or when it took place in the Salzburg mountains. One can only hope that the residents of Wölting remain true to their roots and continue this unusual tradition.
I posted a short video of the spectacle on YouTube. You can check it out HERE.
Want to bring a little bit of Austria into your living room? My Etsy store has jars filled with Alpine air! Bottled by me personally.
Sources:
On-site interviews with the organizers, Mr. Lüftenegger and Mr. Wieland (April 6, 2026)
Interviews with visitors
Photos: Ingrid Müller
Add a Comment