Canederlo Festival

The Canederlo Festival in Borgo Valsugana

The Canederlo Festival is a culinary event dedicated to the canederlo (known in German as Knödel), the famous stale-bread dumpling that serves as a symbol of Alpine and Trentino cuisine. The event takes place in the heart of Borgo Valsugana, a town in the Valsugana valley in the province of Trento, within the Trentino-Alto Adige region. It transforms the historic center into a gourmet trail, with squares and courtyards opened specifically for the occasion.

A festival born from the community

The event was established in 2024 by the Pro Loco Borgo Valsugana and quickly became a highly anticipated date for both locals and visitors. About 80 volunteers and numerous local associations collaborate on its realization, alongside local merchants: an organizational machine that makes volunteer work and community spirit one of the festival's hallmarks.

The courtyards of the historic center

The Canederlo Festival has the merit of bringing life back to spaces in the village that are usually less frequented. The event winds through Piazza Degasperi, Piazza Martiri della Resistenza, and a network of evocative courtyards such as the Corte della Locanda in Borgo, Corte Livio Rossi, the Portego sulla Brenta, the Corte della Gora, and the Town Hall Cloister. Strolling from one courtyard to another, tasting the different varieties, is an integral part of the experience.

Canederli, the absolute stars

At the food stalls, associations offer numerous versions of the canederlo, from the most traditional recipes to creative interpretations. Among the variations appreciated in recent editions:

• classic meat canederlo served in broth;
• cheese canederlo with melted butter;
• meat canederlo with goulash sauce;
• spinach canederlo with melted butter;
• meat canederlo with tomato sauce;
• sweet canederlo, such as the pistachio version with ice cream.

Music, workshops, and entertainment

Beyond gastronomy, the program offers live music with the Borgo Valsugana Civic Band and local folk groups, canederlo-making workshops for children, face painting, roving entertainment, and areas dedicated to local crafts. An event designed for families and those who want to discover the gastronomic identity of the Valsugana valley in a convivial atmosphere.

An event that boosts off-season tourism

Held in autumn, the Canederlo Festival also plays an important role in extending the tourist season, bringing visitors to the Trentino village during a traditionally quieter period. Borgo Valsugana is part of the "Most Beautiful Villages of Italy" network, and the festival attracts audiences from as far as Veneto, Lombardy, and Tuscany.