Befana's Plunge – Riviera dei Pini
The collective costume swim in the winter Adriatic Sea in Tagliata di Cervia
About Befana's Plunge
A Dip in the Winter Sea
The Befana's Plunge is one of the most cherished folkloristic events on the coast of Cervia, in the province of Ravenna, in Emilia-Romagna. Every year, coinciding with Epiphany, the beach of Tagliata – the heart of the so-called Riviera dei Pini – transforms into the stage for a ritual that is as playful as it is brave: the first collective swim of the year in the icy waters of the Adriatic. Organized by the Pro Loco Riviera dei Pini, the event combines Romagna's popular tradition with the community spirit that animates this stretch of coast even in the winter months.
Costumes, Courage, and a Festive Crowd
The highlight is the plunge in the early afternoon: participants of all ages show up in creative and playful costumes – dinosaurs, animals, fantasy characters – and dive into the sea before a festive crowd, with water temperatures around a few degrees. The subsequent awards crown the day, with prizes for the most original costume, the youngest, the oldest, and the funniest masks.
A Day of Events on the Coast
The Plunge is not just the swim; it's a celebration that fills the entire day. The program usually includes:
- the Befana Bike Ride, a mountain bike excursion with routes of varying lengths along the Cervia hinterland;
- the Befana Market with creative artisans and food trucks along the streets of Tagliata;
- the gastronomic stand of the Pro Loco's Casina, with typical local products like Cervia's Cardo Gobbo (a type of thistle);
- entertainment, music, and traditional Romagna songs by the Pasquaroli (Epiphany singers) at the Parco dei Gemelli;
- mulled wine, panettone, and pandoro offered to support local charitable initiatives.
Tagliata and the Riviera dei Pini
Nestled between Pinarella and Milano Marittima, the hamlet of Tagliata gets its nickname Riviera dei Pini (Pine Riviera) from the pine forest that characterizes its landscape. Out of season, the coast regains a quiet, family-friendly atmosphere, and the Befana's Plunge has become the community's way of bidding farewell to the Christmas holidays, transforming a cold January Sunday into a grand seaside village festival.
Befana's Plunge — edition 2026
On Sunday, January 11, 2026, after being postponed due to weather conditions, the beach of Tagliata di Cervia hosted the new edition of the Befana's Plunge organized by Pro Loco Riviera dei Pini. The day began at 8 AM with the Befana Bike Ride on mountain bikes (routes of 40 and 65 km), followed by the market, food trucks, and the Casina's gastronomic stand.
At 3 PM, the highlight: nearly eighty swimmers, aged between 6 and 78, plunged into the Adriatic at about 4 degrees, wearing creative costumes – dinosaurs, cupcakes, sharks, Romagna tennis players – and cheered on by the crowd to the rhythm of mazurka. The awards celebrated the most original costumes, with a special mention for a costume dedicated to the fight against gender violence.
Programme Befana's Plunge 2026
Program for Sunday, January 11, 2026
- 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM Befana Bike Ride, mountain bike tour (40 and 65 km routes) by Gruppo Aquilotti di Cervia
- 10:00 AM Opening of the Befana Market and food trucks along the streets of Tagliata
- 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Opening of the Casina gastronomic stand with local products (Cervia's Cardo Gobbo)
- All day: children's entertainment, giant wooden games at Parco dei Gemelli, songs by the Pasquaroli, music with Radio Social Coast and Radio Bruno
- 3:00 PM The Befana's Plunge – collective costume swim in the Adriatic (registration until 2:30 PM)
- Following: awards for the most original costumes and masks
Highlights Befana's Plunge 2026
- Nearly 80 swimmers aged 6 to 78 in the sea at about 4 degrees Celsius
- Playful costumes and awards for the most original masks
- Cycling tour, market, and food trucks
- Mulled wine, panettone, and pandoro with free donation for charity
Prices Befana's Plunge 2026
Practical information — Befana's Plunge
Where
Beach of Tagliata di Cervia (Riviera dei Pini), at the height of viale Sicilia, near La Casina and Parco dei Gemelli. Postal Code 48015, province of Ravenna.
How to Get There
By car: Take the A14 motorway exit for Cesena, then the E45/SS16 Adriatica highway to Cervia-Tagliata. By train: Cervia-Milano Marittima station on the Adriatic line, then bus or taxi to Tagliata. Nearest airports: Forlì, Rimini, and Bologna.
Participation and Costs
Free entry and participation in the festival. Registration for the plunge is via a dedicated online form and on-site until early afternoon. Charitable gastronomic offerings are by free donation.
Information
Pro Loco Riviera dei Pini – tel. +39 0544 1888363 – [email protected] – www.rivieradeipini.it
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Where does it take place — Befana's Plunge
Spiaggia di Tagliata - Riviera dei Pini
Viale Sicilia, 48015 Cervia