Carcoforo Chestnut Festival

An autumn festival in the mountains of Valsesia

When the woods of the Val d'Egua turn shades of red and gold, it is time for the Chestnut Festival in Carcoforo. Organised by the Pro Loco Carcoforo, this autumn celebration honours the chestnut—the iconic fruit of the mountains—with steaming roasted chestnuts and an aperitif shared with the community at the village Sports Centre.

Carcoforo, the smallest Walser village in Valsesia

At an altitude of approximately 1,300 metres, Carcoforo is one of the smallest and most charming municipalities in Valsesia, in the province of Vercelli, in the heart of the Piedmontese Alps. The village preserves living traces of Walser culture, the Germanic community that colonised these high valleys during the Middle Ages. This is evident in the architecture of the mountain huts, the stone-tiled roofs, and the small local museums, including a restored 14th-century granary and a natural history museum linked to the Alta Valsesia Natural Park.

What to expect at the Chestnut Festival

• Roasted chestnuts prepared on the spot, with an unmistakable aroma
• Social aperitif for residents and visitors
• A simple, welcoming village atmosphere
• The backdrop of the autumn woods of Val d'Egua

The Chestnut Festival is part of a calendar of events that the Pro Loco hosts throughout the year, from summer festivals to sporting events like the Vertical Egua, and the pastoral traditions of early November. It is the ideal opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the Piedmontese mountains, far from mass tourism, where tradition can still be felt at every step.

An experience to be savoured slowly

More than just a gastronomic event, the Chestnut Festival is an invitation to pause in Carcoforo: a walk through the hamlets, a visit to the museums, the silence of the woods, and then the warmth of the festival around the fire of the roasted chestnuts. A genuine taste of the Valsesian autumn, blending flavours, nature, and hospitality.