Fera ad Zugn
The June fair and the patronal feast of Saint Anthony in Mercadello
About Fera ad Zugn
A village festival that smells of tradition
The Fera ad Zugn — literally "the June fair" in the dialect of the Bassa modenese — is the festival that every year enlivens Sant'Antonio in Mercadello, a hamlet of the Municipality of Novi di Modena, in the province of Modena (Emilia-Romagna). It is one of those village festivals where the sacred and the profane intertwine: the patronal feast dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, celebrated on June 13th, and the popular fair with its stands, music, and the desire to be together.
The link with Saint Anthony
The heart of the event is the patronal feast. The hamlet takes its name from the saint to whom the parish church is dedicated, and the toponym "Mercadello" recalls its ancient vocation as a market place. During the festival, the community gathers around the solemn Eucharistic celebration, enlivened by the choir "Simona Andreoli" and presided over in recent years by Archbishop-Bishop Erio Castellucci, head of the Diocese of Carpi. A particularly anticipated moment is the distribution of Saint Anthony's Bread, an ancient custom of charity and popular devotion, followed by a refreshment in the rectory square.
The fair and conviviality
Alongside the religious dimension, the Fera ad Zugn is above all a village festival: food stands with the flavors of Emilian cuisine, musical moments, spaces for families and children, and the big community lunch on Sunday, organized at the Spirituality Center. The community's reference point is the PalaRotary, the multifunctional structure built on municipal land in the hamlet after the earthquake of 2012, which severely hit this corner of the Bassa modenese: today it is a symbol of rebirth and the place where the community comes together again.
Why it's worth being there
The Fera ad Zugn is not a large commercial event: it is an authentic festival, made up of volunteers, the parish, and the Pro Loco tourist board, of people who know each other. For those who want to discover the truest Emilia, far from the tourist circuits, it is the perfect opportunity to savor the tradition of a village in the Modenese plain that, after the earthquake, has managed to rebuild itself around its own identity.
Fera ad Zugn — edition 2026
The Fera ad Zugn 2026 returns to Sant'Antonio in Mercadello, a hamlet of Novi di Modena, from June 12 to 14, 2026, according to the Municipality's event calendar. The festival revolves around the patronal feast of Saint Anthony of Padua (June 13th) and combines religious tradition with the popular tradition of the village fair.
The program follows the established structure of previous editions: the solemn Eucharistic celebration in the parish church, enlivened by the choir, the distribution of Saint Anthony's Bread, and the refreshment in the rectory square, culminating in the community lunch on Sunday at the Spirituality Center. Alongside the celebrations, food stands and musical moments at the PalaRotary complete the festival.
Programme Fera ad Zugn 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 edition will be published by the parish and the Municipality in the days preceding the festival. Based on recent editions, the usual schedule includes:
- Friday, June 12 — opening of the fair with food stands and entertainment in the center of the hamlet.
- Saturday, June 13 (Saint Anthony of Padua) — solemn Eucharistic celebration in the parish church, enlivened by the choir "Simona Andreoli"; afterwards, distribution of Saint Anthony's Bread and refreshment in the rectory square.
- Sunday, June 14 — Solemn Mass in the morning and community lunch at the Spirituality Center (by reservation at the parish office).
Precise times, participants, and civil initiatives (music, stands, entertainment) will be confirmed in the official program.
Highlights Fera ad Zugn 2026
Prices Fera ad Zugn 2026
Practical information — Fera ad Zugn
Where
Sant'Antonio in Mercadello, hamlet of Novi di Modena (MO), Emilia-Romagna. Celebrations take place in the parish church and around the rectory; convivial moments at the PalaRotary (Via Sant'Antonio) and the Spirituality Center.
How to get there
By car: the hamlet is easily reached from Carpi and Mirandola, in the Bassa modenese north of Modena. By train: Carpi station on the Verona-Bologna line, then bus connection.
Community lunch
The Sunday lunch at the Spirituality Center is by reservation: contact the parish office (tel. +39 059 671513) or community representatives.
Information
Municipality of Novi di Modena, tel. +39 059 6789111, email [email protected]. Parish of Sant'Antonio in Mercadello (Diocese of Carpi).
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Where does it take place — Fera ad Zugn
PalaRotary e centro di Sant'Antonio in Mercadello
Via Sant'Antonio, 41016 Novi di Modena