Crostata Festival

The festival that opens the Piacenza summer festivities

As the last weekend of May approaches, in Caorso — a municipality of just over four thousand inhabitants in the Bassa Piacentina, in the province of Piacenza and Emilia-Romagna — a countdown begins that the locals know well. The Crostata Festival is the event that, for almost twenty years, has inaugurated the season of local festivals: a popular and family-friendly gathering that draws people from all over the plain between the Po River and the Apennines.

A festival centered around a cake

The heart of the event is, of course, the crostata, the shortcrust pastry tart filled with jam, which is one of the symbols of Emilian home baking. You'll find it in all its variations along the stalls: classic, plum, apricot, and berry. But the Festival is also an opportunity to rediscover the local cuisine: food stalls serve pisarei e fasö, tortelli with tails, asparagus crepes, braised meat, fried cake, and grilled skewers, in true Piacenza style.

Three days of music, markets, and a funfair

The festival unfolds in the historic center, from Piazza della Rocca along Via Roma, and brings together many different elements. There are evening music events with live concerts and dance orchestras, creative markets and second-hand stalls, craft exhibitions, and a large funfair for the little ones. Sunday is dedicated to quality shopping with the Mercanti di Qualità (Quality Merchants) and to children, with entertainment and shows designed for families.

The role of the Pro Loco

Behind the organizational machine is the Pro Loco of Caorso, working in collaboration with the Municipality of Caorso. It's an event built on volunteerism and the town's identity, where the proceeds support the association's activities and the community's life. For this reason, the Crostata Festival is more than just a food festival; it's an event deeply felt by the entire town.

Why it's worth attending

If you're looking for the authentic, unfiltered Italy of village festivals, the Crostata Festival in Caorso is an excellent starting point. Free entry, family atmosphere, good food at honest prices, and that mix of tradition and fun that makes the festivals of the Po Valley special.