Fornio in Festa — San Giovanni Tortelli Feast

A tradition that opens summer in Fornio

In the hamlet of Fornio, along the first hills of the Municipality of Fidenza, in the province of Parma, the evening of June 23rd marks an event awaited by the entire community every year: the Tortellata di San Giovanni. It is the festival that symbolically opens summer, a moment of sharing made of endless tables, smiles, and a desire to be together that has been renewed for over forty years thanks to the commitment of the volunteers of the Circolo Folkloristico Sportivo Fornio.

The star dish: tortelli d'erbetta

The heart of the evening is the famous tortelli d'erbetta, produced in-house, an authentic symbol of Parmesan cuisine. Alongside them, the menu offers mixed cured meats, French fries, homemade desserts, and coffee, accompanied by typical wines from the local hills such as Gutturnio and Ortrugo, as well as draft beer, water, and soft drinks. The service is self-service, open to all, without reservation: you queue up, fill your plate, and join the large outdoor tables.

Saint John's Dew

The festival has its roots in an ancient peasant tradition linked to the night of Saint John, between June 23rd and 24th. After dinner, the custom is to await the Saint John's dew, considered beneficial and auspicious: a popular ritual that still links the village of Fornio to the cycle of the seasons and the folklore of Emilia-Romagna.

Music and atmosphere

The evening is enlivened by musical entertainment, with the novelty of the 2026 edition entrusted to Joseph Villa. Amidst the notes and the aroma of tortelli, the festival maintains its authentic spirit of a village fair, where hospitality and friendship matter as much as good food.

A free event for everyone

Admission is free. The Tortellata di San Giovanni is one of the many tortellata events that liven up Parma and its province on the solstice night, and in Fornio, it remains a benchmark for those who want to experience a genuine evening in the green countryside of Fidenza.