Events, Festivals and Italian Holidays 2012
Year round weekly markets"mercati" in Langhe, Roero & Monferrato
(These markets are outdoors, normally in the town's main piazza. They are open from 7-8am to 1pm selling fresh veggies, meats, cheeses, olives, clothes, shoes, linens and other miscellaneous items.)
Monday - Monforte d'Alba, La Morra, Mango
Tuesday - Alba, Canale d'Alba, Dogliani, Canelli
Wednesday - Neive, Bra, Santo Stefano Belbo
Thursday - Castagnole delle Lanze
Friday - Bra, Cortemilia, Murazzano, Nizza Monferrato
Saturday - Alba
Sunday - Costiglione d'Asti, Barbaresco(very small)
Festa=Festival
Sagra=Food Festival, normally celebrating a village's wine, signature dish or local vegetable
January 1
"Capodanno" New Year's Day
Big "pranzo" lunch with family and friends to bring luck and money into the new year.
January 6
"Epifania" Epiphany
The "strega" witch comes to bring the good children presents and candy.
February 21
Carnevale
Last party before Ash Wednesday and Lent, often starts 2-3 weeks before the actual date ending with a big party on last day, in this case, February 21st. Lots of partying, eating, drinking and overindulging all over Italy, Europe and the world.
February 21
Carnival of Ivrea, Battaglia delle Arance Orange Battle
Annual carnival, this small village near Torino, celebrates the end of carnival with an Orange Battle. Men in medieval costumes through oranges at each other.
March 2-11
Cioccola-to Torino
A Chocolate Festival in Torino
March 25-28
Vinitaly, Verona
Sunday April 8
"Pasqua" Easter
A very important holiday here, everything is closed but restaurants & you will need a reservation.
Monday April 9
"Pasquetta" Little Easter
Everybody in Italy is outside and barbecuing on this day, unless it is raining. Everything closed but wine bars and restaurants.
April 13, 20, 27 (Fridays)
A Dinner & Tasting of the new releases of Barolo
3 evenings featuring the new release of 2008 Barolo.
A fantastic way to experience the new vintage along with dinner. At various participating restaurants in the Barolo area. 55-80 euros for dinner & wine per person depending on restaurant
Late April-Early May
Vinum, Alba
May 5-6
Festa della Barbera, Castagnole Lanze
A weekend festival "di Cortile in Cortile" with Barbera from Castagnole Lanze
Main day is Sunday the 6th.
May 5
Art Festival in Vergne, Barolo
"Festa dei pittori e dell’arte (XIII edizione)
Discover local paintings, scupture, photogragpy, ceramics, poetry & music.
2nd weekend in May
Nizza e Barbera
A Barbera Wine Festival in Nizza Monferrato
May 4, 11, & 18
Il Barbaresco a Tavola
3 evenings featuring the new release of 2009 Barbarescos.
A fantastic way to experience the new vintage along with dinner.
At various participating restaurants in the Barbaresco area.
40-85 euros for dinner & wine per person depending on restaurant
May 27
Portè Disnè
Gastronomic Walk from Monta to Canale in Roero
June 16-17
The Siege of Canelli
A Festival to celebrate the Siege of Canelli in 1613
Go back in time for the weekend with costumes and reinactments
June 21-24
Cinema Corto in Bra
International Short Film Festival in Bra
July
Monforte in Jazz and More
Music Festival in Monforte d'Alba
July 21
Barolo Night
Langhe Food and Wine Festival
Gastronomic event in La Morra with cuisine from the best restaurants in La Morra paired with Barolo wine from La Morra and live music
July/August
Italy&USA · Alba Music Festival
18 concerts, every evening, in the territory of Langhe and Roero
In association with Ente Turismo, Consorzio Turistico
Wednesday August 15
Ferragosto
Everything is closed but restaurants & you will need a reservation.
This is a bigger holiday than we first thought. It is impossible to do anything on this day but be on holiday and eat! If you want to have a picnic, make sure to buy supplies the day before as NOTHING is open.
August 26
Mangialonga
Gastronomic Vineyard Hike in La Morra
September 7-11
Piacere Barbaresco
Barbaresco 2008-2009 Wine Tasting in Treiso with over 50 Producers.
Tour of Crus, Sensory game, Special dinner in every night at a local restaurant in Barbaresco
September 8-9
Festa del Vino Barolo
Barolo Tasting
September 9
Festa delle Sagre
An all day festival celebrating the wines of Asti and it's contadine winegrowers and farmers
Centro Storico Asti
September 16
Palio di Asti
Fall Festival and Historic Horse Race in the city of Asti
September 2013
Slow Food Cheese in Bra
Slowfood Cheese Festival held every other year to promote regional producers and local products.
September 15-17
Festival della Lumaca
Historic Snail Festival in Cherasco
Saturdays in October
Barolo Tasting at Cantina Comunale in La Morra
Barolo 2007-2008 Wine Tasting in La Morra with 12-15 producers every Saturday
October 6-November 11
82^ International White Truffle Fair of Alba
Every Saturday and Sunday from October 8th to November 13th
(Parade and Donkey Palio September 31st)
October 6-7
“Sagra della Cugna”
Many different Cugnas to taste and buy, local cuisine “from Langhe e Monferrato”
Comune di Coazzolo
October 14-15
Barbaresco Tasting
Barbaresco 2008-2009 Wine Tasting in Barbaresco with over 50 Producers.
Walking Tour of Crus.
October 29
A Tutta Trippa
A Tripe Festival in the village of Barolo, yes, Everything Tripe!
Starts at 11am
Thursday November 1
"Tutti i Santi" Feast of all Saints
Italians have the day off and visit their relatives in the cemeteries with lots of flowers(more than usual).
November 2-6
Barbera Festival Costigliole d’Asti
Big Barbera Wine Tasting at the Cantina Comunale in Costigliole d’Asti
Over 200 Barberas to taste from the best producers of the area
Throughout December
"Mercatini di Natale" Christmas Markets
Most villages and towns have an annual outside Christmas market. These are festive with many stands of gifts to buy, food, music, goats and sheep and "vin brule" hot spiced wine. If you are here at this time, ask your hotel or look for flyers announcing times and dates.
Saturday December 8
"Immacolata Concezione" Immacolate Conception
Big shopping day in Italy, similar to Black Friday in USA
Tuesday December 25
"Natale" Christmas
Italians have a BIG lunch at home or dine in a restaurant with family. A big family day, everything closed but some restaurants are open with a fixed Christmas menu. If dining out, make reservations!
Monday December 31
New Year's Eve
Make your hotel and dining reservations well in advance! Most fine dining restaurants will offer a Fixed Menu on this night. Be prepared for a loud night of fireworks!