Ancient Saint Joseph Fair

A fair that tells the rural soul of the Bisenzio Valley

The Ancient Saint Joseph Fair is one of the most cherished events in the calendar of Vernio, a small mountain municipality in the Province of Prato, Tuscany, overlooking the Apennines on the border with Emilia. Traditionally linked to the feast of Saint Joseph on March 22nd, the fair has always marked the end of winter work and the arrival of spring: the moment when the farming communities of the Bisenzio Valley returned to the fields and gathered to trade animals, seeds, and tools.

Between Mercatale and San Quirico

The event enlivens the heart of the town, between the hamlets of Mercatale and San Quirico: the market spreads across Piazza del Comune, Piazza 1° Maggio, along Via Fobiana, in the garden of the Direttissima Monument, and in Piazza San Leonardo. Along the streets of the center, agricultural businesses, nurseries, food producers, artisans, creatives, and local associations find space in a journey that weaves together commerce, taste, and tradition.

The ox parade and the farm in the square

The most anticipated moment is the ox parade, with ox-drawn carts parading through the crowd, accompanied by the official inauguration. For children and families, there is the farm in the square, featuring donkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits, ponies, and many other animals, while artisans demonstrate ancient trades such as farriery and blacksmithing live. There is no shortage of chainsaw sculptures, a miniature rural world, and woodworking workshops for children, from the "Geppetto's Workshop" to the creative farm.

Flavors, excursions, and culture

Food and wine take center stage with street food, stalls featuring typical Apennine products, and the famous Fair Tortelli offered by local restaurateurs. The program is enriched by guided forest hikes, conferences dedicated to the development of rural areas, and art exhibitions set up in the spaces of the Town Hall. Organized by the Municipality of Vernio in collaboration with Appennino Slow and under the patronage of the Tuscany Region, the Ancient Saint Joseph Fair is much more than a market: it is the festival with which Vernio rediscovers its roots every year.