Crescentina Festival

The symbolic festival of Frignano

Every year, on the last weekend of August, the center of Pavullo nel Frignano fills with the unmistakable aroma of crescentina, the tigella cooked between red-hot discs that is the symbolic product of the Modenese Apennines. The Festa della Crescentina is one of the most beloved gastronomic events in the Province of Modena, in Emilia-Romagna: an appointment that attracts thousands of visitors and which in 2025 came close to the record of almost 79,000 tigelle cooked in two days.

What is crescentina (and why is it also called tigella)

Crescentina is a small, round, flattened bread, traditionally cooked between tigelle, the red-hot terracotta or refractory stone discs that gave the product its popular name. It is enjoyed hot, cut in half and stuffed with cunza (a mixture of lard, garlic, and rosemary), with mountain cured meats and cheeses, or in a sweet version with jam or Nutella. In Pavullo, crescentina is much more than food: it is a collective ritual that unites hamlets and generations.

The heart of the festival: the fractional groups

The soul of the event are the fractional groups and local clubs, who take turns at the stands to offer crescentine according to traditional recipes. In recent years, the fractions of Montorso, Benedello, Renno, Gaiato, La Fonda, Castagneto, Baldaccini and the Girasoli have enlivened the festival, along with the gluten-free stand and specialties directly managed by the Pro Loco Pavullo. The Red Cross is also present with its solidarity stand.

The Palio del Parmigiano-Reggiano della Montagna Modenese

The highlight of Sunday is the Palio del Parmigiano-Reggiano della Montagna Modenese, the competition that rewards the best mountain dairies in the Province of Modena. Alongside the competition, there are demonstrations by cheesemakers, with live production of Parmigiano-Reggiano and tasting of fresh ricotta, in collaboration with the cooperatives of Frignano.

Music, dancing, and market

In addition to gastronomy, the Crescentina Festival offers live music, group dances, folk performances, entertainment, workshops, and a market along the streets of the center. The atmosphere is that of the great Emilian village festivals, where good food, conviviality, and tradition merge in a late-summer weekend dedicated to the whole family.