Festival of Polenta, Bisò and Sabadò

A festival to warm the Romagnol winter

When the January cold envelops the plain, the small Municipality of Solarolo, in the province of Ravenna, gathers around one of its most beloved traditions: the Festival of Polenta, Bisò and Sabadò. It is the first major gastronomic festival of the year in this corner of Emilia-Romagna, capable of transforming Piazza Garibaldi and the historic center into a great place for conviviality, where people gather around a steaming plate to taste-fight the rigor of the season.

Origins: San Sebastiano and Sabadoni

The festival stems from the meeting of two local traditions. On one hand, the feast of San Sebastiano, patron saint of Solarolo, celebrated on January 20th; on the other, the ancient custom of sabadoni (in dialect sabadò), the typical sweet fritters of Romagna. When the historic festival dedicated solely to sabadoni was suspended, the Pro Loco decided to integrate them into the patronal celebrations, giving rise to the event that today attracts visitors from all over Bassa Romagna.

Flavors of tradition

The absolute protagonist is polenta, served in numerous variations in the heated gastronomic stands: grilled with pancetta and sausage, with Romagnol ragù, 'concia' (with cheese and butter) or with cheeses. A curiosity is the Valdostan polenta, a result of the twinning between Solarolo and Rhemes-Notre-Dame, in Valle d'Aosta. Alongside the polenta, the great classics of Romagnol cuisine are not to be missed:

• Bisò: the Romagnol version of mulled wine, prepared with spiced Sangiovese and served piping hot;
• Sabadò (sabadoni): sweet fritters filled with chestnuts and dipped in saba, cooked grape must;
• Cappelletti with ragù and passatelli in broth, two pillars of Romagnol tradition;
• sausages, ossobuco, and other specialties served both on-site and for takeaway.

Not just gastronomy

The festival is also an occasion for celebration for the entire community. Along the streets of the center, you'll find the artisan market and a second-hand market, while the traditional agricultural machinery exhibition recalls the area's farming roots, often accompanied by a conference dedicated to the world of agriculture. The evenings are enlivened by musical entertainment, piano bar, and karaoke, and the weekend concludes with the highly anticipated giant tombola of the merchants.

An event from the heart

Promoted by Pro Loco Solarolo APS with the patronage of the Municipality and the support of the local community, the Festival of Polenta, Bisò and Sabadò is much more than a food festival: it is the way Solarolo opens the year, bringing together different generations around the flavors and traditions that define this Romagnol village.