Feast of the Assumption and Gnocco Festival in Brancafora
The Ferragosto festival in the hamlet of Brancafora, with gnocchi and Marian devotion
About Gnocco Festival of Brancafora
Ferragosto in Brancafora: Faith and Tradition
The Feast of the Assumption and Gnocco Festival is the patronal festival of the hamlet of Brancafora, in the municipality of Pedemonte, in the province of Vicenza. It takes place around August 15th, the day of the Assumption, and combines Marian devotion linked to the church of Santa Maria Assunta with the conviviality of a village festival deeply rooted in the community of Valdastico.
The Alpini Procession
The most evocative moment is the evening of August 15th, when the statue of the Madonna Assunta is carried in procession through the streets of the district by the Gruppo Alpini di Pedemonte, accompanied by the sound of the traditional campanon. A ritual that every year draws the inhabitants and many who return to the village for the occasion, renewing a bond between faith and community identity.
The Gnocco Takes Center Stage
The gastronomic heart of the festival is the handmade gnocco, prepared by the Comitato Feste Ciechi-Brancafora and served every evening along with other local specialties. The evenings are enlivened by live concerts, DJ sets, comedy shows, and theatrical performances, while for the little ones, there is entertainment with clowns.
Brancafora and the Valdastico Valley
The church of Santa Maria Assunta in Brancafora is a stop on the Cammino delle Apparizioni (Path of the Apparitions) and a custodian of a long devotional tradition. The hamlet is located in a panoramic position at the entrance of the Valdastico valley, amidst the pre-Alpine hills of Vicenza, bordering Trentino, offering an authentic glimpse into the village festivals of mountainous Veneto.
Gnocco Festival of Brancafora — edition 2026
The 2026 edition, the 22nd Gnocco Festival, is expected in mid-August in Brancafora di Pedemonte for the Feast of the Assumption. The festival will feature the food stand with handmade gnocchi, musical evenings, comedy shows, and on the evening of August 15th, the procession of the statue of the Madonna Assunta carried by the Alpini of Pedemonte to the sound of the campanon. Detailed dates and program are published by the Committee shortly before the event.
Programme Gnocco Festival of Brancafora 2026
The detailed 2026 program will be announced by the Comitato Feste Ciechi-Brancafora shortly before the event. The festival traditionally follows this three-day structure:
August 13th
- Evening with dinner and show
August 14th
- 5:00 PM — Opening with aperitif and DJ music
- 7:00 PM — Food stand opens
- 9:00 PM — Live concert, followed by DJ set
August 15th — Assumption Day
- 10:45 AM — Holy Mass
- 12:00 PM — Food stand with gnocchi
- 4:00 PM — Clown show for children
- 6:45 PM — Procession with the statue of the Madonna carried by the Alpini
- 7:00 PM — Food stand reopens
- 9:00 PM — Live concert, followed by DJ set
Highlights Gnocco Festival of Brancafora 2026
Prices Gnocco Festival of Brancafora 2026
Practical information — Gnocco Festival of Brancafora
How to get there
Brancafora di Pedemonte can be reached by car from Vicenza by taking the Valdastico road (SP350). The nearest airport is Verona Villafranca.
Where and when
Hamlet of Brancafora, Pedemonte (VI), around August 15th. Food stands open in the evening; procession on the evening of August 15th.
Information
Comitato Feste Ciechi-Brancafora, tel. +39 338 7321826, [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Gnocco Festival of Brancafora
Frazione Brancafora