Anolino Festival

The festival celebrating Piacenza's anolini

In the small village of Trevozzo, a hamlet of the Municipality of Alta Val Tidone (Province of Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna), one of the most cherished festivals in the valley takes place every autumn: the Anolino Festival. Organized by the volunteers of the Pro Loco Strà Trevozzo, the event is dedicated to the symbolic dish of Piacenza tradition, anolini in broth, and annually brings together lovers of good food and ballroom dancing from across the province.

A young but already established tradition

Born in 2022, the festival has grown rapidly to become a fixture of the Val Tidone autumn: the third edition was held in 2024, the fourth in 2025, and 2026 will mark the 5th edition. The secret to its success, as Pro Loco president Luca Cassi explained, lies in its simple and winning formula: "People gladly come to dance indoors and taste the excellent anolini." The entire festival takes place indoors, at the "G. Fuso Nerini" Multipurpose Centre on Via Fornace, a choice that provides shelter from the typical rain and cold of the season.

What to eat

The heart of the festival is, of course, Piacenza gastronomy, served at the stalls with takeaway options:

• Anolini in broth, the festival's star dish
• Mixed boiled meats with traditional side dishes
• Cotechino and Piacenza-style filling
• French fries, homemade desserts, and cakes
• Piacenza's DOP cured meats (coppa, pancetta, salami)
• DOC wines from Val Tidone to accompany the dishes

Over the years, the Pro Loco has also introduced some novelties, such as "anolini sorbiti," i.e., served with a splash of wine, following a local peasant custom.

Dancing and live music

Alongside the food, the other major attraction is dance music: evenings and afternoons of dancing with live folk orchestras and DJs liven up both days of the festival, in the true style of Emilia's village festivals. It's an opportunity to gather, dance indoors, and experience the authentic atmosphere of a community coming together around its roots.

An event in the Alta Val Tidone calendar

The Anolino Festival is part of the rich calendar of events promoted by the Municipality of Alta Val Tidone, which boasts over seventy annual events including festivals, historical re-enactments, and food and wine events dedicated to the region's excellences. For those visiting Val Tidone in autumn, it's the ideal opportunity to discover the most genuine side of this corner of the Piacenza Apennines.