Festeggiamenti di San Rocco
The San Rocco festival in the Natisone Valleys
About Festa di San Rocco
San Rocco in the Natisone Valleys
The Festeggiamenti di San Rocco are one of the most cherished summer events in the Valli del Natisone, a region with Slovene language and culture on the eastern border of Friuli. It takes place in Merso di Sopra, a hamlet of the municipality of San Leonardo in the province of Udine, around mid-August, and for many years has attracted people from all the valleys to the Parco delle Scuole.
The Flavours of the Valleys
Cuisine is one of the festival's main stars. On the table, you'll find stakagne, a typical purée of potatoes with green beans, lard, and vinegar from the valleys' tradition, wild boar gnocchi, goulash, and the ever-present grilled meats. It's the genuine and hearty cuisine of a mountain territory, to be enjoyed at outdoor tables with company.
Sport, Tradition, and Fun
The program is very rich: football and volleyball tournaments, the Marcia in Rosa (Pink Walk) in support of LILT, a tractor rally, a lunch for the elderly, and fun events like the "In barba e baffi" (Beard and Moustache) competition. A festival that combines sport, solidarity, and popular tradition.
Music Under the Stars
Every evening is for dancing and celebrating with orchestras, tribute bands, DJ sets, and shows, culminating in a grand finale with music and fireworks that light up the sky of the Valli del Natisone. Organized by the Comitato festeggiamenti San Rocco (San Rocco Festival Committee), these days of celebration are the perfect opportunity to discover the authentic soul of this corner of eastern Friuli.
Festa di San Rocco — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Festeggiamenti di San Rocco returns to Merso di Sopra around mid-August (patron saint's day is August 16th), at the Parco delle Scuole. The precise dates will be confirmed by the Comitato festeggiamenti San Rocco in the weeks prior.
The festival offers typical specialties from the Valli del Natisone, from stakagne to wild boar gnocchi, alongside sports tournaments, the Marcia in Rosa, a tractor rally, evenings of live music, and a grand finale with fireworks.
Programme Festa di San Rocco 2026
The Festeggiamenti di San Rocco unfold over several days at the Parco delle Scuole in Merso di Sopra. Based on previous editions, the program includes:
- Opening: children's entertainment, tournaments (morra, football, volleyball), night walk, live music, and DJ sets.
- Marcia in Rosa in support of LILT and lunch for the elderly.
- Tractor rally and the "In barba e baffi" (Beard and Moustache) competition.
- Evenings with orchestras, tribute bands, and DJs.
- Grand finale: closing concert and fireworks display.
Throughout the festival, food stalls will be open serving typical valley specialties: stakagne, wild boar gnocchi, goulash, and grilled meats. The detailed program with dates and times will be published by the Festival Committee in the weeks preceding the event.
Highlights Festa di San Rocco 2026
Prices Festa di San Rocco 2026
Practical information — Festa di San Rocco
How to get there: Merso di Sopra is a hamlet of San Leonardo, in the Valli del Natisone (UD), reachable by car from Cividale del Friuli. The festival is held at the Parco delle Scuole.
Admission: free. Food and drinks at the stalls. Info: [email protected], tel. 342 6149087.
When: mid-August, around August 16th (San Rocco's day).
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Where does it take place — Festa di San Rocco
Parco delle Scuole - Merso di Sopra