Ancient Saint Blaise Fair
The first big fair of the year on the Garda Morainic Hills
About Saint Blaise Fair
The fair that opens the year on the Morainic Hills
The Ancient Saint Blaise Fair is the first major festival of the year on the Garda Morainic Hills, and it takes place in Cavriana, a charming medieval village in the Province of Mantua. For about ten days, between late January and early February, the town comes alive with events that blend religious tradition, sport, culture, and food and wine, under the patronage of the Lombardy Region.
Villa Mirra, heart of the event
The focal point of the fair is Villa Mirra, a historic residence that hosts exhibitions, painting shows — including the historic collective exhibition of Saint Blaise — workshops for children, visits to the archaeological museum, and numerous activities for families. Around the villa, you'll find the market, the educational farm, the funfair, and the "Taverna di San Biagio" for tasting local products.
The maxi Saint Blaise cake
The most anticipated moment is the cutting of the maxi Saint Blaise cake, a dessert about two and a half meters in diameter made with traditional shortcrust pastry and almond filling. The cake is not just a delicious specialty; it's a symbol of Cavriana's identity and history. The cutting is accompanied by a flag-waver performance, adding color and theatricality to the ceremony.
The Strabiagio and sport
The fair traditionally opens with the Strabiagio, a footrace of over fifteen kilometers that covers the territories of Cavriana and Solferino, immersed in the morainic hilly landscape. Sport is an important component of the event, thus combining the competitive dimension with the convivial and cultural one.
A community heritage
The Ancient Saint Blaise Fair is much more than an event; it's a shared heritage of the Cavriana community, capable of attracting visitors from all over the Province of Mantua and the nearby Garda area. Tradition, taste, and identity merge in a festival that opens the calendar of morainic events every year.
Saint Blaise Fair — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Ancient Saint Blaise Fair is held in Cavriana from January 25 to February 3, under the patronage of the Lombardy Region. The event opens on Sunday, January 25 with the Strabiagio, a footrace of over fifteen kilometers between Cavriana and Solferino, and continues with a rich program culminating on the weekend at Villa Mirra.
The highlight is Sunday, February 1, with the cutting of the maxi Saint Blaise cake (approx. 2.5 meters in diameter), accompanied by the flag waver performance of Isabella d'Este.
Programme Saint Blaise Fair 2026
Sunday, January 25
- 8:00 AM — Strabiagio race, over 15 km between Cavriana and Solferino.
Friday, January 30
- 8:30 PM — Evening with DJ.
Saturday, January 31 — Villa Mirra
- 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM — Fair, exhibitions, and the 53rd collective painting exhibition of Saint Blaise.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM — "Hands-on dough" workshop for children.
- 4:30 PM — Performance by Circo Fratelli Grioni.
- 9:00 PM — Youth evening in the marquee.
Sunday, February 1 & Monday, February 2 — Villa Mirra
- 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM — The fair continues with exhibitions and market.
- 11:00 AM — Flag waver performance and cutting of the maxi Saint Blaise cake (2.5 m diameter).
- 4:30 PM — Circo Fratelli Grioni performance.
- 9:00 PM — Concert by the town band and dialect comedy.
Tuesday, February 3
- 3:00 PM — Storytelling for families.
- 9:00 PM — Dance evening.
Throughout the event: face painting, educational farm, museum visits, funfair, bunker visit, and "Taverna di San Biagio" for tastings.
Highlights Saint Blaise Fair 2026
The cutting of the maxi Saint Blaise cake with the flag wavers of Isabella d'Este (Sunday, February 1) and the Strabiagio race to open the event.
Prices Saint Blaise Fair 2026
Practical information — Saint Blaise Fair
Where
Villa Mirra, Via Porta Antica 32, and the historic center of Cavriana (MN), on the Garda Morainic Hills. By car from the A4 (Sirmione/Desenzano exit) or A22; the village is a short distance from Lake Garda.
When
Between late January and the first few days of February.
Admission
Free. Only some activities and food/drink purchases are charged.
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Where does it take place — Saint Blaise Fair
Villa Mirra e centro storico di Cavriana
Via Porta Antica 32, Villa Mirra, 46040 Cavriana