68th Provincial Gathering of the Alpini

The Provincial Gathering of the Alpini in Toano

On the weekend of July 4th and 5th, 2026, the Municipality of Toano, in the Province of Reggio Emilia, hosts the 68th Provincial Gathering of the Alpini, the great annual festival of the 'black hats' from Reggio Emilia organized by the Reggio Emilia Section of the National Alpine Association (ANA). The event takes place between the historic center of the town and the nearby hamlet of Corneto, involving the entire community of the Reggio Emilia Apennines.

A tradition that changes town every year

The Provincial Gathering is a traveling event: each year the Reggio Emilia Section entrusts the organization to a different municipality in the territory. After the 66th edition in Ventasso in 2024 and the 67th in Cavriago in 2025, in 2026 it's Toano's turn. The handover took place according to the traditional rite of the "stecca" (stick), the symbolic baton received by the mayor Leonardo Perugi at the end of the Cavriago edition, a sign of the relay between the host communities.

Remembrance, friendship, and Alpine values

The gathering is not just a parade: it is a moment of strong identity for the Alpine community of Reggio Emilia, celebrating friendship between generations, the historical memory of the Alpini Corps, and the values of solidarity and attachment to the land that have always distinguished the 'black hats'. The main day traditionally includes the assembly of the groups, the parade in uniform through the town streets accompanied by the band, the flag-raising ceremony, the laying of a wreath at the monument to the fallen, Holy Mass, and speeches by authorities, followed by a convivial lunch under the tents.

An Apennine village in celebration

Toano is a mountain municipality in the Province of Reggio Emilia, in Emilia-Romagna, overlooking the Secchia valley. For two days, the town and the hamlet of Corneto will be filled with Alpini, families, and visitors from all over the province, in an atmosphere that combines solemnity and conviviality. The Reggio Emilia Section of the ANA, founded in 1932 and currently chaired by Albert Ferrari, brings together dozens of Alpine groups scattered throughout the Reggio Emilia territory.

Program coming soon

The dates for the 2026 edition are official, while the detailed program with times, parade route, and side events will be announced by the Reggio Emilia Section and the Municipality of Toano in the months preceding the event.