Assunta Festival / Patronal Feast of Rovasenda
The patronal feast of the village in the heart of the Vercelli plains
About Assunta Festival
The village festival in the shadow of the castle
The Assunta Festival is the main event of the year for Rovasenda, a municipality in the Province of Vercelli, in the heart of the rice-growing plains of eastern Piedmont. For five days, the village gathers for its patronal feast, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of the Assumption, alternating between religious observance and festive, popular celebration. The heart of the festivities is the charming Piazza Castello, at the foot of the ancient manor that has dominated the town with its 48-meter-high tower since the 15th century.
Faith, gastronomy, and community
The festival combines two spirits: the spiritual, marked by the solemn procession of the Madonna with local confraternities and high mass, and the convivial, featuring food stalls where you can taste traditional Vercelli dishes, starting with panissa, the famous risotto with beans and salame della duja. Evenings are enlivened by live music, DJ sets, and shows, while fairground rides remain open throughout the festival, designed for families and children.
The historic bond with France
The Assunta Festival is also an opportunity to celebrate the twinning that has linked Rovasenda to the French town of Pontcharra, in Isère, since 1973. This bond is rooted in history: the famous knight Pierre Terrail, Lord of Bayard, was born in Pontcharra and lost his life near Rovasenda in 1524. For this reason, the festival features French guests, friendship dinners, and moments dedicated to the meeting of the two communities.
A program for everyone
- Food stalls with typical dishes of the Vercelli plains
- Religious procession and solemn mass in honor of the Assumption
- Musical evenings, tribute bands, and DJ sets
- Vintage car parade and costumed participants
- Tournaments, non-competitive walks, and Italo-French games
- Fairground rides open throughout the event
A genuine village celebration, the Assunta Festival of Rovasenda offers an authentic glimpse into the traditions of rural Piedmont, far from the major tourist circuits and perfect for those seeking human warmth and real flavors.
Assunta Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Assunta Festival of Rovasenda brought the Vercelli village to life from May 29 to June 2 with a rich and varied program, successfully combining the patronal feast with community initiatives and the customary meeting with our French friends from Pontcharra.
Highlights included the procession of the Madonna with local confraternities, solemn high mass, a vintage car parade with costumed participants, and "games without frontiers" between Italian and French teams. Evenings featured live music and DJ sets, while food stalls served traditional Vercelli dishes.
Programme Assunta Festival 2026
Friday, May 29
- 19:15 — Cheerleader group awards
- 19:30 — Opening of food stalls
- Evening — Live music with Vascombricola
Saturday, May 30
- 11:30 — Presentation of 2025-2026 artistic gymnastics certificates
- 15:00 — Foosball tournament
- 17:30 — Procession of the Madonna with confraternities
- 19:00 — Aperitif and traditional cake auction in Piazza Castello
- 19:30 — Opening of food stalls
- 20:00 — Dinner with French guests
- Evening — Entertainment with Mauro e i Monelli and DJ set
Sunday, May 31
- 11:00 — Dog show at the sports field
- 11:45 — Solemn high mass
- 12:30 — Tribute to Bayard
- 15:00 — Games without frontiers with Italo-French teams
- 17:00 — Vintage car parade with costumed participants
- From 19:30 — Food stalls, followed by Tony Aguilera with Caribbean music and dance, and DJ set
Monday, June 1
- 18:00 — Non-competitive walk
- 19:30 — Food stalls; evening entertainment with Remember le Cave – Dj Fazza
Tuesday, June 2
- 12:30 — "Fora Tut" lunch, the festival's closing event
Fairground rides remained open throughout the event.
Highlights Assunta Festival 2026
Prices Assunta Festival 2026
Practical information — Assunta Festival
How to get there
Rovasenda is located in the Vercelli plains, accessible by car from the A4 motorway (Greggio or Romagnano-Ghemme exits) and provincial roads connecting Vercelli, Biella, and Novara. The nearest train station is on the Santhià-Biella line.
Admission and dining
Access to the festival is free. Food stalls and fairground rides charge according to the posted price lists. Reservations are recommended for evening dinners.
Information
For details and reservations: Federico, tel. +39 329 9605250, or email [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Assunta Festival
Piazza Castello e centro di Rovasenda