Desmontegada of Fai della Paganella
The cattle parade that concludes the Orme Festival on the Paganella plateau
About Desmontegada
The festival of the return from mountain pastures
The Desmontegada is one of the most cherished traditions in the Trentino Alps: the return of cows from high-altitude pastures at the end of summer. In Fai della Paganella, a small village on the plateau of the same name in the province of Trento, this ancient ritual is renewed every September as the closing event of the Orme Festival, a trail-themed festival that brings the village to life for several days with excursions, performances, and meetings dedicated to the relationship between man and the mountains.
Cattle as the stars of the village streets
The heart of the day is the livestock parade: the cows, dressed for the occasion with flowers, ribbons, and large bells, descend from the pastures and traverse the historic center of Fai della Paganella. The procession reaches Piazza San Rocco before continuing toward Piazzetta Orme, flanked by crowds welcoming the herders and their animals. A highlight is the lighthearted and beloved election of the "most beautiful cow," voted on by the spectators.
Music, workshops, and a community lunch
The parade is the centerpiece of a full day of festivities: a marching band accompanies the procession, children participate in themed workshops, and the entire community gathers for a large community lunch featuring typical products from the alpine dairies and the plateau. Mountain cheeses, traditional Trentino dishes, and local wines tell the story of the pastoral culture of the Brenta Dolomites and the Paganella.
A ritual that concludes the Orme Festival
The Desmontegada is not an isolated event; it represents the symbolic finale of the Orme Festival, closing the circle of an immersive nature experience. After days of slow walking, meetings, and reflections on the trail as a dialogue between man and territory, the return of the herds brings the bond between the Fai della Paganella community and its pastures back to the center stage. It is an event for families, curious visitors, and alpine tradition enthusiasts, blending folklore, gastronomy, and landscape in one of the most evocative settings in Trentino-Alto Adige.
Desmontegada — edition 2026
The 2026 Desmontegada is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, as the closing day of the ninth Orme Festival, taking place in Fai della Paganella from September 9 to 13, 2026, with the theme "The trail is dialogue." The traditional parade of cows returning from the mountain pastures, dressed for the occasion, will cross the village center to Piazza San Rocco, accompanied by music, children's workshops, and the unmissable community lunch featuring typical products of the plateau.
The festival week offers guided hikes with alpine guides, the Dialoghi nel Bosco Bootcamp at the Parco del Respiro (September 9-11), itinerant concerts, open-air theatrical performances, and creative workshops. Musical guests for this edition include pianist Giovanni Allevi with the concert "Armonie Invisibili."
Programme Desmontegada 2026
Sunday, September 13 — Desmontegada
- Parade of cows adorned for the festival from the pastures, along the village streets to Piazza San Rocco and Piazzetta Orme
- Accompaniment by the marching band
- Election of the "most beautiful cow" voted by the public
- Children's workshops and entertainment
- Community lunch with typical products from the mountain dairies and the plateau
The Desmontegada is the grand finale of the 2026 Orme Festival (September 9-13). In the preceding days: Dialoghi nel Bosco Bootcamp at the Parco del Respiro (September 9-11), the concert by Giovanni Allevi "Armonie Invisibili" (Friday, September 11), the roundtable "I Sentieri che Curano" (Thursday, September 10), and guided hikes. Detailed schedules for the Desmontegada will be published on the festival portal in the preceding weeks.
Highlights Desmontegada 2026
Prices Desmontegada 2026
Practical information — Desmontegada
Location
Fai della Paganella (TN), Trentino-Alto Adige. The parade crosses the historic center, arriving at Piazza San Rocco and continuing toward Piazzetta Orme.
How to get there
By car: A22 motorway exit Trento Nord/Trento Centro, then follow the SS421 and SP64 toward the Paganella plateau (approx. 30 minutes from Trento). By train: Trento station, then local bus service to Fai della Paganella.
When
In September, as the final day of the Orme Festival. The Desmontegada traditionally takes place on a Sunday.
Admission
The parade is free to attend. Some activities, workshops, and the community lunch may require reservation. Info: Consorzio Fai Vacanze, [email protected], tel. +39 331 4173245.
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Where does it take place — Desmontegada
Centro storico di Fai della Paganella
Piazza San Rocco, 38010 Fai della Paganella