Betty B Festival of Comics and Images

Betty B, the comic strip that travels through the Terre di Castelli

The Betty B Festival of Comics and Images is one of the most original cultural events in Emilia-Romagna: instead of concentrating in a single location, it chooses to move from town to town, transforming the Terre di Castelli, on the outskirts of Modena, into a large, widespread laboratory dedicated to drawing and visual storytelling for a few weeks. Promoted by the Municipality of Savignano sul Panaro in collaboration with the Municipalities of Vignola, Spilamberto, Guiglia, and Valsamoggia, the festival travels through five villages between September and October, with Vignola as the final stop.

A magazine that became a festival

It all began in 2017, when Betty B was conceived as a "live magazine": an event to browse comic book pages live, meeting those who draw them. From the following year, the idea expanded and became a true festival, with Vignola among the first cities to join in 2018, followed by Spilamberto and, since 2023, by Guiglia and Valsamoggia. Edition after edition, the event has expanded its scope, embracing not only comics and graphic novels but also illustration, satire, street art, audiovisuals, cosplayers, board and card games, computer graphics, and virtual reality.

What you'll find in the square

Each stop offers a core set of activities that has made the festival recognizable throughout the province of Modena:

• a large comic book bookshop, with stands from comic artists, illustrators, publishing houses, and self-published authors;
• exhibitions set up in historic buildings, galleries, and exhibition halls in the historic centers;
• meetings, talks, and presentations with guests, including masters of Italian comics and emerging young talents;
• creative workshops for children and teenagers, shows, screenings, and cosplay parades.

Festival competitions

Betty B is not just a showcase but also an opportunity to discover new authors thanks to its competitions: La Poesia Illustrata (Illustrated Poetry), a national contest that brings poets and illustrators together, and BETTYSELF, dedicated to self-publishing and the self-publishing scene in comics. These are complemented by street art initiatives that leave a permanent mark on the municipalities hosting the event.

The Vignola stop

In Vignola, famous for its fortress and cherry blossoms, the festival finds its ideal conclusion: the historic center comes alive with stands, exhibitions, and shows that attract an audience of enthusiasts, curious visitors, and families from all over Emilia-Romagna. It is the moment when the different souls of Betty B—comics, illustration, live performance—come together for a final weekend of celebration before looking forward to the next edition.