Lumberjack and Forest Festival

A festival celebrating the forest craft

The Lumberjack and Forest Festival is one of the most cherished traditional events in Val di Fiemme, Trentino-Alto Adige. It takes place annually on the first Sunday of September in Castello-Molina di Fiemme, in the province of Trento, specifically within the picturesque Stadio naturale dei Larici in the Piazzòl area—a natural amphitheater nestled in a centuries-old larch forest.

The festival is organized by the Magnifica Comunità di Fiemme, an ancient institution that has managed the valley's forests and collective assets for centuries, in collaboration with the Municipality of Castello-Molina di Fiemme, local parishes, the Molina Band, and numerous local associations.

Origins and the Madonna of the Lumberjacks

The event's roots lie in the devotion of the local lumberjacks. Following a serious accident in the woods, a grotto dedicated to the Madonna dei boscaioli (Our Lady of the Lumberjacks) was built in 1913, becoming a place of prayer for those working among the larches. The modern festival began in 1964 and has been held every year since, blending religious devotion with sports and conviviality.

Forestry skill competitions

The heart of the day is the grand competition between teams of lumberjacks, who face off in five disciplines that replicate traditional forestry tasks:

• Pole felling with a chainsaw
• Log debarking with an axe
• Log pruning with a chainsaw
• Log cutting with a hand saw
• Log dragging

In addition to the team competition, there is an optional individual climbing challenge on a log. Participants include professional lumberjacks, landowners, members, employees, or collaborators of companies and organizations active in Val di Fiemme, in a competition that combines strength, technique, and speed.

Tradition, taste, and conviviality

The Lumberjack Festival is more than just sport; it is a day of community. It opens with Holy Mass at the Madonna dei boscaioli sanctuary, accompanied by parish choirs and the Molina di Fiemme Band. This is followed by the opening of stalls, an aperitif with wild herbs and Trentino DOC white wines, and an alpine lunch prepared by local associations. In the afternoon, after the awards ceremony, the festivities continue with music and dancing until evening.

For those visiting Val di Fiemme in early September, the Lumberjack Festival in Castello-Molina di Fiemme is an authentic opportunity to discover the mountain identity of Trentino-Alto Adige, the ancient bond between this community and its forests, and the vitality of a tradition passed down through generations.