International Folklore Festival

A Bridge Between World Identities

The International Folklore Festival is one of the most established summer events in the Imola and Bologna area. Founded in 1991 on the initiative of the Romagnoli Folk Group "Turibio Baruzzi" of Imola, the festival is itinerant: for a few consecutive evenings in late July, it brings dance and folk music ensembles from every continent to the squares of various municipalities in the district, from Imola to Casalfiumanese, from Massa Lombarda to Riolo Terme, including Castel San Pietro Terme. The spa town in the Province of Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna, has been hosting one of the most heartfelt stops on the calendar for years.

The Castel San Pietro Terme Stop

In Castel San Pietro Terme, the festival takes a dual form. In the afternoon or early evening, international groups animate a parade through the historic center, with traditional costumes, flags, instruments, and dances transforming the streets and squares into a kaleidoscope of colors. In the later evening, the show moves to the Castello Arena, the open-air space that hosts the rich "Estate Castellana" summer review: here, guest groups perform one after another with choreographies, songs, and dances representative of their respective countries, sharing the stage with their Romagnol hosts.

World Traditions, Romagna's Hospitality

Over the years, the festival has hosted groups from Mexico, Thailand, Hawaii, and many other countries, with dozens of artists becoming guests of local families and communities for a few days. It is precisely this human exchange, in addition to the performance, that is at the heart of the event: an opportunity to learn about distant cultures and, by contrast, to rediscover the roots of Romagnol folk culture carried forward by the "Turibio Baruzzi" group.

An Event for Everyone

The Castellana stop is designed for a broad, family audience: admission is traditionally free, and the atmosphere, with dances, costumes, and live music, is also suitable for children. For those visiting Castel San Pietro Terme—known for its thermal baths and its location along the Via Emilia, a short distance from Bologna and Imola—it is the ideal opportunity to experience a different summer evening, focused on the encounter between peoples.