Lavartis and Pombia Beer Festival
Archaeology, Celtic culture, and beer in Pombia, at the gateway to the Ticino Park
About Lavartis and Beer Festival
A festival born from a unique archaeological discovery
The Lavartis and Pombia Beer Festival is a brand-new event on the Piedmontese festival scene, created to share and showcase a discovery with few equals in Europe. In 1995, during excavations in the Celtic necropolis of Pombia, a town in the province of Novara, researchers recovered the remains of a fermented beverage made from barley and flavored with wild herbs, including hops: it is the oldest evidence of hopped beer on the continent, dating back to the 6th century BC. The artifacts are now housed at the Fanchini Civic Museum in Oleggio.
Drawing inspiration from this extraordinary legacy, the Pro Loco Pombia APS created a festival that focuses on Celtic culture, the archaeology of beer, and local flavors, held between the Social Center on Via Garibaldi and the Piazza Gianelli Tent Theater.
A program blending science and tradition
The opening day begins with the conference "The Beer of Pombia: Archaeology and Science," featuring institutional greetings and talks by experts from the Fanchini Museum, the Cavallini Institute of Lesa, and local master brewers, accompanied by the presentation and tasting of a recreation of the historical beer. In the afternoon, the Celtic encampment comes to life, curated by the Teuta Vertemocori, featuring demonstrations of camp life and young warrior training, the jovial bottle cap grand prix, and guided tours of Pombia's monuments.
Among the most evocative offerings is the educational walk "In Search of Pombia Hops," an itinerary through the Ticino Valley to observe hops in their natural habitat. Evenings are enlivened by themed dinners with DJ sets at the Palatenda, live concerts, and ballroom dancing.
Celtic flavors and local products
Gastronomy is an integral part of the festival. The Celtic-style lunch offers a selection of cured meats and cheeses, chickpea crostini, barley soup, and Pombia beer-braised pork shank with spelt and lavartis salad, followed by dessert and a glass of beer. The final day hosts "Visitarmangiando," a multi-stage tour through the town's monuments and nature, where each stop is paired with a course from the traditional menu.
Pombia and the Ticino Park
Nestled in the Vergante hills at the gateway to the Ticino Park, Pombia is a small town that guards a historical and natural heritage of great value. With this festival, the town positions itself as a destination for enthusiasts of archaeology, Celtic traditions, and fine craft beer, in an authentic corner of Piedmont between Novara and Lake Maggiore.
Lavartis and Beer Festival — edition 2026
The first edition of the Lavartis and Beer Festival opened on May 9, 2026, at 9:00 AM at the Social Center on Via Garibaldi with the conference "The Beer of Pombia: Archaeology and Science," featuring talks from the Fanchini Museum, the Cavallini Institute, and master brewers, alongside a tasting of a historical beer recreation. In the afternoon: the Teuta Vertemocori Celtic encampment, the bottle cap grand prix, guided tours of monuments, and the "In Search of Pombia Hops" walk in the Ticino Valley. In the evening, dinner with a DJ set at the Palatenda and a concert by Sestomarelli.
On May 10, the festivities continued with dinner at the Palatenda and a ballroom dance evening with Lorena Barchi. On May 17, "Visitarmangiando" was held, an enogastronomic tour through the monuments with staggered departures (10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30). Themed lunches and dinners cost 25 euros and required advance booking.
Programme Lavartis and Beer Festival 2026
Saturday, May 9
- 9:00 AM — Opening and conference "The Beer of Pombia: Archaeology and Science" (Social Center, Via Garibaldi 18), institutional greetings and expert talks (Fanchini Museum, Cavallini Institute, master brewers)
- 11:30 AM — Presentation and tasting of the reconstructed historical beer
- 12:30 PM — Celtic-style lunch at the Palatenda (25 euros, reservation required)
- 2:00 PM — Opening of the Celtic encampment (Teuta Vertemocori) with camp life demonstrations and young warrior training; start of guided tours of Pombia's monuments
- 2:30 PM — Bottle cap grand prix
- 4:00 PM — "In Search of Pombia Hops" walk in the Ticino Valley
- 7:00 PM — Dinner with DJ set at the Palatenda
- 9:00 PM — Sestomarelli in concert
Sunday, May 10
- 7:00 PM — Dinner at the Palatenda
- 9:00 PM — Ballroom dance evening with Lorena Barchi
Sunday, May 17
- "Visitarmangiando": tour of monuments and nature with tastings (25 euros, reservation required), departures at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, and 13:30
Highlights Lavartis and Beer Festival 2026
- Recreation and tasting of the oldest Celtic beer in Europe (6th century BC)
- The Teuta Vertemocori Celtic encampment
- The walk in search of wild hops in the Ticino Valley
- Pombia beer-braised pork shank with spelt and lavartis salad
- Sestomarelli concert and ballroom dance evening
Prices Lavartis and Beer Festival 2026
Practical information — Lavartis and Beer Festival
Getting there
Pombia is located in the province of Novara, at the gateway to the Ticino Park. By car, it can be reached via the A26 motorway (Castelletto Ticino or Marano Ticino exits) and the SS33 del Sempione road. By train, the nearest station is Oleggio, on the Novara-Domodossola line; Milan Malpensa Airport is just a few kilometers away.
Event venues
Activities take place primarily at the Social Center at Via Garibaldi 18, the Palatenda at Vicolo Santa Caterina 1, and the Piazza Gianelli Tent Theater.
Reservations and costs
Themed lunches and dinners (Celtic lunch and "Visitarmangiando") cost 25 euros per person and require advance booking. Conferences, the Celtic encampment, guided tours, and nature walks are free to access. For information and reservations, please contact Pro Loco Pombia.
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Where does it take place — Lavartis and Beer Festival
Centro Sociale e Teatro Tenda di Piazza Gianelli
Via Garibaldi 18, 28050 Pombia