Conscripts Festival

The Boves Conscripts Festival

The Conscripts Festival is one of the most beloved events for the community of Boves, a town in the province of Cuneo, at the foot of the Piedmontese Alps. It takes place every year on Easter Monday, bringing together the town's conscripts in a single grand parade: from the fifteen-year-olds experiencing their social "baptism" to the elderly centenarians, in an embrace between generations that has enlivened the town center for generations.

The tradition of the conscripts

The festival gathers the cohorts of years ending in the same digit: each edition celebrates the classes reaching a milestone anniversary. The event is traditionally led by the "middle cohort," the forty-year-olds, under the presidency of the lead conscripts. It is a celebration with strong identity value, where belonging to one's birth year becomes an occasion for gathering, celebration, and remembrance, with a tribute to the Fallen and an affectionate salute to the oldest citizens.

The parade and the band

The day begins in the morning with the gathering of conscripts in Piazza Caduti. From here, the parade winds through the center of Boves, accompanied by the notes of the historic Silvio Pellico "La Rumorosa" Marching Band. Hundreds of participants march together, each cohort with its own distinctive symbol, amidst crowds drawn by the first beautiful spring days.

The mass and the convivial lunch

The religious moment is central: the conscripts attend the solemn mass in the parish church of San Bartolomeo, followed by the traditional group photo that captures every class. At noon, the festival moves to local restaurants, where each cohort gathers around the table for a convivial lunch, the heart of the day and an opportunity to strengthen lifelong bonds.

Entertainment and festivities

Alongside the conscripts' program, the town squares offer games and entertainment for families and children, with the presence of entertainers and the invaluable support of local volunteer associations. The Conscripts Festival is thus, at the same time, an intimate rite of the Boves community and a festive day open to the whole town and visitors, in the true Piedmontese spirit.