Alfonsine Festival (Scarecrow Festival)

A village festival that smells of spring

The Alfonsine Festival, affectionately nicknamed the Scarecrow Festival, is one of the most deeply rooted traditional events in Bassa Romagna. It takes place every year at the end of May in the center of Alfonsine, in the province of Ravenna (Emilia-Romagna), and for four days it transforms the town's squares, gardens, and streets into a large open-air festival space. It is a festival of ancient agricultural origin, created to welcome the arrival of spring and to bring the community together around its peasant roots.

Scarecrows, the symbol of the festival

The identity core of the event is the scarecrows, the result of the creativity of volunteers and residents, which animate public spaces, gardens, and balconies of the town, turning it into an open-air exhibition. For several years, the competition «Scarecrow: the festival in the gardens» has been held, designed to involve citizens in decorating their own spaces with garden or balcony scarecrows: the awarding of the most original ones is one of the most anticipated moments on the final Sunday.

Peasant tradition and agricultural machinery

Alongside the scarecrows, the festival showcases the memory of work in the fields. Among the most characteristic events is the tractor gymkhana, which brings tractors into the square for skill tests, and the exhibition of agricultural machinery, a tribute to the rural vocation of this area of the Ravenna plain.

Gastronomy, shows, and fun for everyone

The festival is also and above all about conviviality: the food stalls offer typical specialties of Romagna cuisine, while the funfair and children's activities fill the evenings for families. The program alternates musical performances, fashion shows, gymnastics and dance exhibitions, photographic exhibitions, and cultural moments, with the main squares — Piazza della Resistenza and Piazza Gramsci — serving as the stage. There is also a sporting dimension, with a non-competitive walk organized by the local running club.

A festival spread throughout the territory

The Alfonsine Festival is organized by the Municipality of Alfonsine with the involvement of numerous local associations and volunteer organizations. Over the years, it has been enriched by collaborations that broaden its cultural scope, such as the ScrittuRa Festival stop dedicated to literature. More than just an event, it is a collective gathering that tells the identity of a town and an entire area of Romagna.