Friggione Festival of Fabbrica di Imola

A festival that smells of Bolognese tradition

The Friggione Festival of Fabbrica di Imola is one of the most beloved gastronomic festivals in the Imola region. It takes place in the small hamlet of Fabbrica, in the Municipality of Imola, in the province of Bologna, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. Organized by the Fabbrica Social Centre, the event enlivens two weekends in May each year with home cooking, conviviality, and entertainment for the whole family.

The friggione, the star of the festival

The dish that gives the festival its name is the friggione, a typical side dish of Bolognese cuisine made from slowly cooked onions and tomatoes, served hot or cold and perfect with homemade bread. Alongside it, the food stand offers specialties of the Emilian-Romagnol tradition: tagliatelle al ragù, tortelli, polenta, strozzapreti with asparagus, grilled meats, tagliata, and sheep arrosticini. The pasta dough is hand-rolled by the 'azdore': over two thousand eggs are used to knead it during the festival.

Music, dancing, and entertainment

The Friggione Festival is not just about good food. Each evening is accompanied by live music, ballroom dancing nights, karaoke, and piano bar, as well as games and entertainment for children. It is a village festival in the truest sense of the word, capable of bringing together different generations: among the volunteers who make it possible are people aged 6 to 90, a sign of a community that passes down tradition hand in hand.

A community festival

Born in the late eighties, the festival will reach its thirty-eighth edition in 2026. Over ninety volunteers work behind the scenes, ensuring service both for lunch on holidays and for dinner. The stand has an air-conditioned indoor room and a takeaway service, so as to welcome the public in all weather conditions.

In Fabbrica, on the outskirts of Imola

The hamlet of Fabbrica is located a few minutes from the center of Imola, a city known for the famous Enzo e Dino Ferrari Racetrack. The Friggione Festival is an excellent opportunity to discover the rural and convivial soul of the Imola territory, far from the tourist circuits and immersed in genuine Romagnol hospitality. Admission is free.