Ancient Saint Bartholomew's Fair

A Village Fair Rooted in Tradition

The Ancient Saint Bartholomew's Fair is the event that every year, on August 24th, enlivens the center of Ossona, a small municipality in the Alto Magentino area of the Metropolitan City of Milan. The date coincides with the liturgical feast of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, to whom the parish church in Piazza Litta Modignani, the heart of the event, is dedicated.

The fair is promoted by the Municipality of Ossona in collaboration with the Pro Loco "Morus Nigra" Aps, Ossona farmers, and ConfCommercio of Alto Magentino. It is one of those festivals where the village comes together: not a major headline event, but a day that tells the story of the identity of a rural community in the plains west of Milan.

Exhibitions, Historic Courtyards, and Agricultural Machinery

The program unfolds between Piazza Litta Modignani, the green spaces of Villa Bosi, and the courtyards of the town center. In recent editions, the fair has hosted photographic and art exhibitions in the spaces of the Municipal Villa, exhibitions dedicated to local history (such as the story of Ossona emigrants in the United States), antique collections in historic courtyards, and displays of agricultural and vintage machinery. There are also stalls, fairground rides, and stands from local associations.

Lombard Cuisine Takes Center Stage

Alongside the exhibition part, the fair is also a gastronomic occasion: refreshment points managed by bars, shopkeepers, and the Pro Loco offer the highlights of Lombard tradition, from tripe to cassoeula, to fried dishes. The day typically concludes with live music in the evening.

Open to all and free to enter, the Saint Bartholomew's Fair is a good starting point to discover the Alto Magentino region, the Milanese countryside, and its late-summer traditions.