Festival of the Tree – Roots for the Future
A month of events on trees, nature, and sustainability in Castel Maggiore
About Festival of the Tree
A festival dedicated to trees in the heart of the Bolognese plain
The Festival of the Tree – Roots for the Future is a cultural and environmental event that enlivens the Municipality of Castel Maggiore, in the plain north of Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna, for over a month. Promoted by the Municipality of Castel Maggiore together with Legambiente Pianura Nord, the festival was born with a simple yet ambitious idea: to put trees at the center, highlight their ecological and cultural value, and invite citizens of all ages to rediscover the deep connection that unites us to nature.
Cinema, theater, science, and poetry
What makes this event special is its widespread and multidisciplinary nature. Throughout the festival, libraries, parks, theaters, and squares in Castel Maggiore become places for meeting and discovery. The program combines different languages—animation cinema, street theater, scientific dissemination, poetry, music, and outdoor activities—to talk about trees, forests, climate, and sustainability in an engaging way accessible to everyone.
- Film screenings dedicated to younger audiences, such as the animated film that opens the event at the Biagi D'Antona Theater.
- Planting of trees and shrubs with the active involvement of local primary schools.
- Readings and workshops for children, ecological meditations, theatrical walks, and musical and poetic readings.
- Training and dissemination meetings on forests, climate, and sustainability choices.
A network of associations and volunteers
The festival is the result of the work of a broad network of local realities. Alongside the Municipality and Legambiente, the Castel Maggiore Comprehensive Institute, the Environmental Council, the PAS – N. Ginzburg libraries and the L'Isola del Tesoro reading center, the Pro Loco, the Oltre le quinte and Junior Poetry Festival associations, the Antinori Social Center, and numerous volunteers collaborate. It is precisely this collective participation that gives the festival a community character, extending far beyond a single event.
An event for the whole family
Designed to engage children, teenagers, and adults, the Festival of the Tree is an opportunity to experience the city's green spaces in a new way, learning to know and care for trees. Throughout the event, libraries offer a selection of themed books to accompany young and old in discovering the green world around us.
Festival of the Tree — edition 2026
The second edition of the Festival of the Tree – Roots for the Future was held in Castel Maggiore (BO) from February 21 to March 28, 2026. For over a month, the city hosted a rich program of events, meetings, and workshops dedicated to trees, nature, and sustainability.
The event kicked off on Saturday, February 21, at the Biagi D'Antona Theater with the screening of an animated film for young people, followed by tree plantings, readings, and workshops for children, ecological meditations, theatrical walks, and musical and poetic readings. The closing event took place on March 28 at Villa Salina Malpighi with outdoor activities and a themed treasure hunt.
Programme Festival of the Tree 2026
Saturday, February 21
- 5:00 PM — Green Cinema: screening of the animated film "The Lorax", for young people, at the Biagi D'Antona Theater, followed by the planting of new trees with primary schools.
Tuesday, February 24
- 6:00 PM — Forests, Climate, and Difficult Choices: training meeting (SPRINGLAB project), Sala Cutuli.
Saturday, February 28
- 4:00 PM — Green Allies: ecological meditations on the tree of life, library park.
Saturday, March 7
- 10:30 AM — Let's Get into Trees: readings and workshop for children, PAS Library.
- 2:00 PM — Let's Revive the Marsh: tree planting at the marsh on Via Ronco.
Tuesday, March 10
- 5:00 PM — In the Shape of a Tree: scientific workshop, PAS Library.
Sunday, March 15
- 10:00 AM — Storytelling Trees: theatrical walk, Piazza della Resistenza, Trebbo.
Saturday, March 21
- 2:00 PM — Plant, Grow, Breathe: tree planting at the park on Via Gramsci.
- 5:00 PM — The Voice of the Trees: musical reading, Biagi D'Antona Theater.
Sunday, March 22
- 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM — Poetry reading, L'Isola del Tesoro reading center.
Saturday, March 28
- 10:00 AM — Final event at Villa Salina Malpighi, with tree climbing, treasure hunt, and outdoor activities.
Throughout the festival
- "On the Tree" Book Hunt: selection of tree-themed books for all ages at the PAS – N. Ginzburg libraries and the L'Isola del Tesoro reading center.
Highlights Festival of the Tree 2026
Prices Festival of the Tree 2026
Practical information — Festival of the Tree
Where it takes place
The festival is spread across various locations in Castel Maggiore (BO): the Biagi D'Antona Theater, Villa Salina Malpighi, the PAS – N. Ginzburg libraries and the L'Isola del Tesoro reading center, as well as city parks and squares.
How to get there
Castel Maggiore is located a few kilometers north of Bologna and is easily accessible by car from the Bologna ring road. The town is served by the Bologna–Ferrara railway line, with its own station, and by several intercity bus lines.
Costs and reservations
Festival events are public and free to attend. Reservations may be required for workshops and children's activities: it is advisable to consult the updated program on the Castel Maggiore Municipality website or contact the organizers at +39 051 6386718.
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Where does it take place — Festival of the Tree
Teatro Biagi D'Antona, Villa Salina Malpighi e altri luoghi