Festa della Mela Val Brembana

A festival for the fruit of the Orobie mountains

Every third Sunday in October, the small municipality of Moio de' Calvi, in the Province of Bergamo, transforms into the capital of mountain apples. The Festa della Mela Val Brembana is the event that showcases the work of the fruit growers of the upper Val Brembana, a valley that has rediscovered apple cultivation in recent years thanks to the commitment of AFAVB, the Association of Fruit Growers and Farmers of Valle Brembana.

Apples take centre stage

At the heart of the festival are the varieties cultivated at high altitude, marketed under the "Mela Val Brembana" brand: Topaz, Renetta del Canada, and Golden, apples with a strong flavour that ripen slowly in the cool climate of the Orobie mountains. You can find them for sale at the stalls, but also transformed into juices, dried fruit slices, pies, and the famous fritters prepared at the AFAVB stand.

Between Piazza IV Novembre and the Church of San Mattia

The festival area is centred around Piazza IV Novembre and the parish church of San Mattia, from 10 am to 5 pm. In addition to apples, you'll find a rich market of typical products: alpine cheeses, cured meats, honey, jams, wild herb teas, handicrafts, and hobby items.

Competitions, games, and entertainment

The festival is also an occasion for fun for all ages. On Sunday afternoon, traditional competitions are held: the best apple pie, the heaviest apple, the best-tasting apple, and the most original apple, reserved for AFAVB members. For the little ones, there's an open-air "escape room" with riddles and games, while entertainment accompanies the whole day. Don't miss the "chat in the orchard," a moment to learn more about apple cultivation in the mountains.

A local project

The Festa della Mela is organised by AFAVB together with the "Terre d'Oltre la Goggia" Cooperative, the local promotion association, and with the patronage of the Municipality of Moio de' Calvi. More than just a sagra (local festival), it's a showcase for an agricultural project that has distributed thousands of saplings throughout the valley, restoring dignity and a future to fruit growing in Brembana.