Bombolone Festival

A village festival in the heart of Valdinievole

The Bombolone Festival is one of the most beloved popular events in the municipality of Larciano, in the province of Pistoia, nestled in the heart of the Tuscan Valdinievole. It takes place in the village of La Colonna, within the Enrico Berlinguer Park, and is organized by the Circolo ARCI Colonna with the support of local associations. Established in the 1980s, the festival reached its forty-first edition in 2026, confirming its status as a staple of the local spring calendar.

The bombolone, king of the festival

As the name suggests, the absolute star is the bombolone: the classic Tuscan fritter, soft and sugared, served here hot and filled with pastry cream. Alongside the bomboloni, you will find the inevitable fried doughnuts and, every evening, two special dishes that change throughout the event. It is simple, genuine cuisine—the kind that tells the story of the convivial tradition of ARCI clubs and village festivals, where people eat elbow-to-elbow under the park's marquees.

Music, dancing, and social life

The Bombolone Festival is not just about food. Every evening continues with live music, dance nights, and entertainment that keeps the park lively until late. It is a festival designed for families and all ages, where the core value remains social connection: locals and visitors from neighboring towns gather to dine together and dance outdoors during the first mild evenings of spring.

The Bombolone Festival Trophy

For decades, the gastronomic festival has been paired with a running race, the Bombolone Festival Trophy, which reached its thirty-fourth edition in 2026. Organized by Atletica Colonna ASD under the aegis of UISP, it is considered one of the first competitive evening races of the Pistoia running season, with the start and finish line in the center of the village. The formula combines sport, popular tradition, and conviviality: after the race, athletes and their supporters stop at the festival stands to enjoy bomboloni and other specialties.

When to go

The festival is traditionally held between late May and early June, spread over several evenings. The food stands generally open for dinner from 7:30 PM inside the Berlinguer Park in La Colonna. It is an ideal stop for those wanting to discover the most authentic side of Tuscany—the kind of village festivals far from tourist circuits, just a few kilometers from Lamporecchio, Vinci, and the thermal baths of Valdinievole.