Festival in the Woods

The summer festival of Monzone

The Festa nel Bosco is one of the most beloved festivals in the Modena Apennines: it takes place every year in July in Monzone, a small hamlet in the Municipality of Pavullo nel Frignano, in the province of Modena (Emilia-Romagna). For over twenty years, the Circolo Amici di Monzone Aps has transformed this village nestled in greenery into a meeting point for residents, vacationers, and curious visitors who come up to the hills for three evenings of good food, music, and conviviality.

The village and its setting

Monzone is a hamlet with a rich history, overlooking the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. The festival is held at Casa Prati, along the Via per Montecenere, in a natural and panoramic setting where tables extend outdoors and the gaze sweeps towards the ridges. It is precisely this backdrop—the cool hill air, the surrounding woods, and the profile of Monte Cimone on the horizon—that gives the event its name and serene atmosphere, far from the heat of the plains.

Apennine Cuisine

The heart of the festival are the food stalls, where you can taste the traditional dishes of the Frignano area:

• Handmade Crescentine (tigelle), to be filled with local cured meats and cheeses;
• Borlenghi, very thin crispy wafers seasoned with the classic "cunza";
• Grilled meat and local specialties;
• Good wine from the hills and homemade desserts.

Everything is prepared by the volunteers of the Circolo, in the true spirit of a community festival.

Music and Entertainment

Each evening features live music, DJ sets, and tribute bands: from the sounds of the '70s and '80s to the great classics of Italian rock, with inevitable tributes to Vasco Rossi. Over the years, the program has featured local bands, dinner shows, and moments dedicated to local folklore, in an informal and family-friendly atmosphere suitable for all ages.

Why it's worth the climb

The Festa nel Bosco is the classic village festival that tells the story of the identity of the Modena Apennines: typical products, spontaneous hospitality, and popular traditions experienced unfiltered. It's a perfect opportunity to discover Monzone and Pavullo nel Frignano on a warm summer evening, amidst the aroma of crescentine and the notes of music.