Foresto Arrosticino Festival

An Abruzzese tradition rooted in the Susa Valley

The Foresto Arrosticino Festival takes place every June in the village of Foresto, within the municipality of Bussoleno, in the Province of Turin, in the heart of the Susa Valley (Piedmont). The event stems from a curious and deep-rooted connection: the arrosticino, the sheep meat skewer that symbolizes Abruzzese tradition, arrived in Foresto thanks to a large group of Abruzzese immigrants who settled in the valley many decades ago. From that culinary memory, a festival was born around 2006, which today attracts thousands of visitors every summer.

When and where

The event is held at the Foresto Public Gardens and, for several years now, has spanned two full weekends in June, coinciding with the Saint John celebrations. Entry is completely free, and the food stalls generally open from 7:30 PM, accompanied by a bar service.

What to eat

The absolute star is, of course, the Abruzzese arrosticino, cooked on the traditional elongated charcoal grill (the "canala") and served by the hundreds by the GAM volunteers. Alongside the skewers, the stalls offer other classic festival dishes, bread, drinks, and desserts, for an open-air dinner in the true spirit of a village fair.

Music and entertainment

Every evening is enlivened by concerts and DJ sets, featuring tribute bands and dance groups ranging from Italian rock to dance music. In recent years, the stage has hosted projects dedicated to Nomadi, Ligabue, Pinguini Tattici Nucleari, and the greatest hits of the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. There is also a children's area with entertainment, a climbing wall for the more athletic, and, on certain days, model-making exhibitions.

A community event

The Arrosticino Festival is entirely supported by the volunteer work of the Gruppo Amici della Montagna (GAM) of Foresto: an organization that makes the festival a moment of gathering for the entire village and the many tourists who visit the Susa Valley in summer. Interrupted only during the Covid emergency, the festival is now a permanent fixture on the summer calendar of the Bussoleno area.

Why it's worth it

Between the scent of the grill, live music, and the genuine atmosphere of a village feast, the Foresto Arrosticino Festival offers an authentic experience that blends Abruzzese culinary tradition with Piedmontese hospitality. It is the perfect occasion for an evening in good company, immersed in the alpine landscape of the lower Susa Valley.