Desmontegada de le Vache & Taste Festival

The Desmontegada de le Vache in Predazzo

Every early October, the town of Predazzo, in the Fiemme Valley (Autonomous Province of Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige), renews an ancient ritual deeply rooted in Alpine valley identity: the desmontegada, the return of the herds from summer mountain pastures to the valley floor. The event, titled Desmontegada de le Vache & Taste Festival, combines the tradition of transhumance with the promotion of autumn mountain flavors, attracting thousands of visitors every year.

The parade of decorated cows

The heart of the festival is the Sunday morning parade: the cows are adorned with crowns of flowers and evergreen branches and walk through the streets of the historic center, led by farmers, shepherds, and mountain dairy owners in traditional costumes. The procession is joined by hay wagons, carriages, horses, sheep, goats, and even chickens, in a festive scene that celebrates the end of the summer grazing season and the arrival of autumn.

The Taste Festival

Throughout the weekend, Piazza SS. Filippo e Giacomo hosts the Taste Festival, featuring a selection of local producers and artisans. The stars of the show are the excellent local cheeses, particularly the Puzzone di Moena DOP and butter from the Predazzo and Moena Dairy Cooperative. There are also food stalls, a market of typical products, and traditional dishes like polenta.

Activities and experiences

• Children's workshops: little ones turn into young cheesemakers with activities organized by the Dolomite Cheese Trail;
• Taste Train: a journey to discover the dairy supply chain with a visit to the barn, milking demonstrations, and an aperitif at the dairy's bistro;
• The world of honey: a local honey competition, beeswax candle-making workshops, and "Honey and Cheese" masterclasses with the Beekeepers' Association;
• Geological Museum of the Dolomites: free admission and workshops dedicated to children.

A ritual of the Dolomites

The Desmontegada of Predazzo is not just a gastronomic event: it is a living testament to the deep bond between the communities of the Fiemme Valley and the mountains, a thanksgiving for the summer grazing season, and an opportunity to rediscover the crafts, flavors, and traditions of the Trentino Dolomites.