Festival of Festivals

The festival of all festivals in the Acqui area

The Festival of Festivals is one of the most cherished autumn events in Acqui Terme, a spa town in the province of Alessandria, in the heart of Piedmont. Launched in 1990, the event brings together around twenty Pro Loco associations from the Acqui area into one big celebration: each association brings to the square the dishes and traditions that animate their own local food or patronal festival, creating a sort of gastronomic and folkloric anthology of the entire region.

The historic center becomes one big dining table

For two days, the streets and squares of the pedestrian zone, from Corso Italia to Piazza Italia, and from Piazza Levi to Piazza della Bollente, fill with stalls, aromas, and music. The cuisine is the most authentic Piedmontese: ravioli, risottos, cured meats, fritters, mushrooms, and traditional desserts, accompanied by wines from the hills of the Acqui and Asti areas. The highlight is the grand open-air dinner (and lunch), with tables set up along the pedestrian zone for thousands of diners.

The Wine Show

The oenological heart of the festival is the Wine Show, hosted at the Regional Enoteca of Acqui Terme in Piazza Levi. Here, the best local producers present their labels in a tasting journey that tells the story of the deep bond between Acqui, the Monferrato region, and wine culture.

The Palio del Brentau

The most distinctive event is the Palio del Brentau, held on Sunday afternoon in Piazza della Bollente. The race commemorates the ancient trade of the brentau, the water carrier who, before the arrival of water heaters, would draw hot water from the thermal spring of the Bollente (which flows at about 75 degrees Celsius) to deliver it to homes. Today, competitors challenge each other to carry brente (wooden buckets) filled with hot water on their shoulders along a city course: the winner is the one who completes the track in the shortest time while spilling the least amount of water.

Music, dance, and shows

The festival is marked by live music and entertainment: the parade and concert of the Acqui Town Band, ballroom dancing with an orchestra, rock and blues evenings, and DJ sets in the various squares, as well as shows and entertainment for all ages. The atmosphere is that of the frank and convivial large Piedmontese village festivals, amplified by the elegant setting of the spa town.

An event for the whole province

More than just a simple food festival, the Festival of Festivals is a collective showcase of the communities of the Acqui area: an opportunity to discover in one go the specialties, local products, and traditions of many towns in the province of Alessandria, gathered in the historic center of Acqui Terme during one of the last weekends of summer.