Festival of the Firùn — Sant'Apollonia Fair

The festival of the chestnut necklace

The Festival of the Firùn is the traditional fair that enlivens Pessano con Bornago every February, a municipality in the Milan hinterland in the province of Milan. The festival is dedicated to the patron saint Sant'Apollonia and takes its name from the firùn, the characteristic necklace of chestnuts that is its symbol. In 2026, the festival celebrates its twenty-fourth edition.

Taste and tradition in Piazza Pertini

The heart of the event is Piazza Pertini, which fills with food stalls and gastronomic stands. Among the offerings are street food, chestnut risotto, cooking shows with guests, and the risotto gathering organised by the Pro Loco of Pessano con Bornago in collaboration with the Pro Loco of Gorgonzola. In the town centre streets, alongside food, there is space for local crafts, folklore, and traditional dances.

Culture and community

The festival is not just about gastronomy: a exhibition of painters and vintage games is held in the Sala Camino of Villa Longhi, in Via Umberto I, while the band parades through the town streets. A rich programme that combines taste, culture, and socialising, involving associations, schools, and citizens.

A fair that endures over time

Organised by the Pro Loco of Pessano con Bornago together with the Municipality, the Sagra del Firùn is one of the most cherished events in the town's winter calendar. Twenty-four editions tell the story of the bond between the community and a tradition that, centred around the chestnut necklace and the figure of Sant'Apollonia, continues to attract residents and visitors from neighbouring towns.