Cameri Patronal Feast and Donkey Palio

A village festival that becomes a Palio

In the heart of the Novara plains, the town of Cameri (Province of Novara, Piedmont) hosts its most anticipated event every September: the Patronal Feast in honor of Saints Michael the Archangel and Gregoria. It is an occasion that blends religious devotion, popular tradition, and local pride, transforming the streets and squares of the town center into a grand open-air theater for ten days.

The highlight is undoubtedly the Donkey Palio, a race that has divided and united the town for nearly eighty years. The event traces its roots back to 1947, when the local community organized the festivities for the Patron Saints, and the race was officially established with the blessing of the Bishop of Novara, Monsignor Leone Ossola. The modern format, which still fuels the rivalry today, dates back to 1987, when the town was divided into the four districts that compete for the banner.

The four districts

The Palio is, first and foremost, a matter of belonging. Cameri is divided into four districts, each with its own colors, symbol, and supporters:

• Aquila — blue and orange, symbolizing the strength of flight;
• Cavallo — yellow and black, symbolizing the energy of youth;
• Pantera — yellow and purple, symbolizing pride;
• Serpente — red and blue, linked to the land and agriculture.

The race features twelve mounts, three for each district, covering the town circuit three times—a distance of about two kilometers completed in just a few minutes of pure adrenaline. The jockeys must be residents of Cameri and ride bareback, without saddles or spurs, wearing their district's colors.

More than just a race: the Ravioli Festival and tradition

The Patronal Feast kicks off with the famous Ravioli Festival, organized by the Pro Loco, which draws thousands of food lovers to enjoy the signature dish of Cameri's gastronomy. During the festival, the program includes concerts by the Margherita Musical Band, comedy and cabaret nights, DJ sets, tournaments, exhibitions, and district dinners under the stars.

The religious dimension remains the spiritual core of the event, featuring the Grand Mass and the solemn procession with the floats of Saint Michael and Saint Gregoria. Before the Palio, the town center hosts a historical costume parade, while the festival traditionally closes with a fireworks display that lights up the sky over Cameri.

Organizers

The festival is the result of a joint effort by the Pro Loco of Cameri APS, the Cameri Palio Authority APS (established in March 2024), the four districts, the parish, and the municipal administration. This collective commitment makes the Cameri Donkey Palio one of the defining events of the Novara region.