I Primi di Rolo

A festival dedicated to Emilian first courses

In Rolo, a small municipality in the Bassa Reggiana in the Province of Reggio Emilia, one of the most beloved gastronomic festivals in the area takes place every spring: I Primi di Rolo. The event, organized by the Roloinfesta O.d.V. Association with the patronage of the Municipality of Rolo, celebrates the heart of Emilian cuisine, namely handmade fresh pasta and traditional Reggiana peasant first courses.

Ten traditional Reggiana first courses

The secret of the festival lies in the ten first courses prepared by the volunteers and 'razdore' of the town, the cooks who are custodians of Emilian know-how. These range from green tortelli with butter and sage to pumpkin tortelli, from stringy potato gnocchi to cappelletti in broth and with ragù, from maccheroni al pettine with ragù to the characteristic risotto alla rolese, up to bigoli with sardines, gramigna with sausage, and passatelli in broth. The formula is all-you-can-eat at a single price: you sit down and taste everything you desire, in a succession of flavors that tells the story of an entire land.

Three evenings of music, community, and solidarity

Beyond the food, I Primi di Rolo is above all a village festival: free concerts, entertainment, and social gatherings alternate over all three evenings, animating the sports area of Via Pertini. The event retains an authentic popular spirit, far from mass tourism, and is distinguished by its charitable dimension: the proceeds from the festival are indeed used to fund the numerous activities that Roloinfesta carries out throughout the year for the benefit of the Rolo community. An event that combines a passion for good Emilian cuisine with the volunteerism of an entire town.