Festival of the Grey Hen and Spring Fair

A festival that announces spring

The Festa d'la Galeina Grisa is one of the most cherished events in the calendar of Pianello Val Tidone, a municipality in Val Tidone in the province of Piacenza, in Emilia-Romagna. Organized by the Pro Loco of Pianello Val Tidone with the patronage of the Municipality, it is held in early May in Piazza Mercato, in the heart of the town, and ideally marks the opening of the spring festival season in the valley.

The name and the tradition of Calendimaggio

The curious dialect name — "galeina grisa", the grey hen — is rooted in the ancient myth of the hen with golden eggs and the propitiatory rites of Calendimaggio (May Day). The egg, a symbol of life and rebirth, gave the early May celebrations an auspicious value linked to the fertility of the land and the abundance of harvests. It is no coincidence that the large omelettes prepared by the Pro Loco — for which thousands of eggs are used — are the symbolic dish of the festival.

The cuisine of Val Tidone

The food stalls, open for lunch and dinner and covered by a large marquee, showcase Piacenza's peasant cuisine. On the menu, you'll find appetizers with Piacenza DOP cured meats, sandwiches with cotechino from Val Tidone, omelettes in various versions — plain, with bavaroni (spring onions), or with cotechino — along with roast beef, fried chicken Pianellese style, grilled vegetables and potatoes, and for dessert, cakes and chocolate salami. All accompanied by wines from the Colli Piacentini.

The Spring Fair

Concurrently with the festival, the large Spring Fair takes place, with over two hundred stalls filling the streets of the center: markets, exhibitors, crafts, and typical products. For families, there is an amusement park and numerous activities, while the evenings are enlivened by orchestras and dancing evenings under the marquee, in the best tradition of Emilia's village festivals.

Why it's worth the trip

The Festa d'la Galeina Grisa is an authentic portrait of a community coming together around its agricultural history. Far from large, glossy events, it is the ideal opportunity to discover Val Tidone, its DOP products, and Piacenza's hospitality, in a genuine and festive atmosphere that attracts thousands of visitors from all over the province each year.