Alpini Festival - Serravalle Sesia Alpini Group

A mountain festival in the heart of Valsesia

The Alpini Festival hosted by the Serravalle Sesia Alpini Group is one of the most cherished events for the community of Lower Valsesia, in the province of Vercelli, Piedmont. Every summer, the 'black feathers' gather in Monchezzola, on the heights overlooking the town, around the small church, the ANA mountain hut, and the bridge over the Chezza stream. It is a mountain festival in the most authentic sense: no stages or big names, just the value of memory, friendship, and belonging to the land.

The day's program

The festival takes place over a single day and follows the rituals dear to the Alpini:

• Flag-raising to open the day;
• Holy Mass celebrated in the little church of Monchezzola, which has always been adopted and cared for by the Group;
• Alpini lunch, the communal meal that brings together Alpini, their families, and supporters;
• Charity auction, the traditional sale of gifts whose proceeds support the Group's activities;
• Afternoon snack, to conclude the day in good company.

Monchezzola, the Alpini's mountain

The bond between the Group and Monchezzola is the heart of this festival. Since their early years, the Serravalle Alpini have 'adopted' this corner of the mountains with its little church, building the refuge and maintaining the access road and bridge. Here, every summer, on the occasion of the Madonna della Neve, the Group gathers to renew a rite made of faith and Alpine tradition. The refuge, owned by the ANA of Serravalle Sesia, stands next to the Madonna della Neve sanctuary.

2026, the year of the centenary

The 2026 edition of the Alpini Festival has a special flavor: it falls during the centenary of the founding of the Serravalle Sesia Alpini Group, which was established in the 1920s with its banner inaugurated in 1927. The centenary celebrations are spread across several events throughout the summer, including a concert by Alpine choirs in the church of San Giovanni Battista and the grand rally day with the Taurinense Brigade Fanfare, a parade, wreath-laying, and solemn Mass. For the occasion, the Group is also publishing the commemorative volume 'Quota 100', following the previous editions 'Quota Cinquanta' and 'Quota Settanta'.

A local tradition

Organized by the Alpini Group with the collaboration of the Pro Loco and the support of the Municipality of Serravalle Sesia, the Alpini Festival is much more than a fair: it is how a mountain community keeps its values and history alive. An ideal event for those who love the genuine atmosphere of Valsesian Alpine festivals.