Festival of Our Lady of Fontanafredda

A Village Festival in the Heart of Frignano

The Festival of Our Lady of Fontanafredda is one of the most cherished popular festivals in the hamlet of Miceno, in the municipality of Pavullo nel Frignano, in the province of Modena, in Emilia-Romagna. Every year, at the beginning of September, the small village in the Modenese Apennines comes alive with two days of celebration that intertwine local religious tradition, the good food of Frignano, and games of the past. It is the classic village festival, authentic and family-friendly, which attracts residents and visitors from neighboring towns.

The Oratory of Our Lady of Fontanafredda

The festival takes its name and origin from the Oratory of Our Lady of Fontanafredda, built in Miceno in the early 17th century. Inside, an image of the Virgin, venerated by the local community, is kept, around which devotion has consolidated over the centuries, giving meaning to the festival to this day. The festival is therefore much more than a gastronomic event: it is the moment when the hamlet gathers around its place of worship and its peasant and mountain roots.

The Food Stand

The pulsating heart of the event is the food stand, where you can taste the specialties of Modenese Apennine cuisine. Absolute protagonists are borlenghi and crescentine, two symbols of Frignano tradition, accompanied by many other typical local dishes. The festival's cuisine, curated by the parish circle volunteers, is one of the ingredients that has made this event a landmark for those seeking the genuine flavors of the Modenese mountains for years.

Music, Markets, and Traditional Games

Alongside the food, the program includes music to accompany the evenings, craft markets with local products, and traditional games, which bring back to life the pastimes of yesteryear. For the little ones, there is a free play area, making the festival suitable for all ages. The atmosphere is typical of Apennine festivals, of a community gathering outdoors to share food, music, and joy in the last summer evenings.

When and Where

The Festival of Our Lady of Fontanafredda takes place in the hamlet of Miceno, accessible from Pavullo nel Frignano, and is included in the official calendar of summer events of the Municipality. It is organized by the Circolo A.N.S.P.I. "Ragazzi di Miceno", a living expression of the village's parish associations. An ideal opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the Modenese Apennines, far from the major tourist routes, and to savor the cordiality of mountain festivals.