Buffa Festival

A village festival in the heart of the Val Sangone

The Buffa Festival is the patronal feast of Borgata Buffa, one of the historic hamlets of Giaveno, the most populous town in the Val Sangone valley in the Province of Turin, about thirty kilometers from the Piedmontese capital. Dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, whose feast day falls on June 24th, the event traditionally takes place on the last weekend of June and is one of the most cherished highlights of the summer calendar for the Giaveno hamlets.

Tradition and devotion

Like all patronal feasts in Piedmontese hamlets, the Buffa Festival blends religious observance with social celebration. Alongside moments of devotion to Saint John the Baptist, the hamlet comes alive with music, dancing, food and drink, and social gatherings that strengthen community bonds. It is a festival created by locals for locals, yet open to anyone wishing to experience the authenticity of a traditional village celebration.

Dance nights

The beating heart of the festival is its dance nights featuring live orchestras, a classic staple of Piedmontese village feasts. Over the years, various ballroom and 'liscio' orchestras have performed, with free admission and bar service available to the public. The open-air dance floor, festive lights, and music lasting late into the evening create the quintessential atmosphere of a Piedmontese summer.

Organizers

The festival is managed by the Associazione Buffa 2.0, the local committee that has kept this tradition alive for years with the patronage of the City of Giaveno. The hard work of the hamlet's volunteers is the true engine of the event, from setting up the grounds to managing the kitchen and bar.

Giaveno and its hamlets

Giaveno has always been a land of patronal feasts: in addition to the Buffa festival for Saint John the Baptist, the summer calendar includes celebrations in other hamlets such as Sala, Maddalena, and Villa, culminating in the town's main patronal feast dedicated to Saint Lawrence in August. Attending the Buffa Festival means discovering an authentic side of Piedmont, defined by community, tradition, and hospitality, nestled in the woods and valleys at the gates of Turin.