Fodor's Expert Review Perchtenlauf

Every four years during the first week of January, the people of St. Johann, like the Bad Gasteiners, celebrate Perchtenlauf, which can be poetically translated to mean "away with winter's ghost." Taking to the streets, they ring huge cowbells and wear weird masks and costumes to drive away evil spirits. Overenthusiastic—meaning inebriated—participants can also drive away some spectators, who find their antics a little intimidating. St. Johann is on the rail network connecting Munich, Klagenfurt, and Salzburg.