Cotechino Festival

Cotechino, the soul of the lower Cremona region

In the plain descending towards the Po River, where winter arrives early and fog envelops the fields, cotechino is much more than a cured sausage: it's a piece of peasant identity. In Casalbuttano ed Uniti, a small municipality in the Province of Cremona, this tradition becomes a village festival every autumn, capable of attracting visitors from all over the area. The Cotechino Festival celebrates the boiled sausage served hot, accompanied by mashed potatoes, lentils, polenta, and the robust flavours of Cremonese cuisine.

Under the Palacotechino tent

The heart of the event is the Palacotechino, the large heated tent set up in Piazza Libertà, in the town centre. Here, long tables are laid out, the kitchen works at full speed, and the atmosphere is that of convivial plain festivals: people eat elbow-to-elbow, chat, and warm up with a glass of red wine as evening falls outside.

A festival with a heart

What makes this festival special is not just the menu. The Cotechino Festival is born and continues with a specific charitable purpose: the proceeds are used to support the orphanage in Beira, Mozambique. Every dish served thus becomes an act of solidarity, and the community of Casalbuttano participates with the generosity that has always characterized its popular festivals.

Who organizes it

Behind the festival is the voluntary work of the Pro Loco Casalbuttano ed Uniti Association, supported by the group Sulle Strade del Mondo and with the patronage of the Municipality. It is thanks to dozens of volunteers that, year after year, the tent fills up and the tradition continues.

A tradition that endures

With the 25th edition expected in 2026, the Cotechino Festival is now a classic of the Cremona autumn. An event that combines taste, conviviality, and social commitment, and tells visitors what the cuisine of the Province of Cremona truly means.