Malcesine Mountain Festival
Edition 2026 Gastronomy Local produce Farmers market

Malcesine Mountain Festival

The herds' return from Monte Baldo and the flavours of the mountain pasture

Malcesine — Verona (023)
Dates 25 Oct — 25 Oct 2026
Location Malcesine (023)
Prices Free
Status Confirmed

About Mountain Festival

The Malcesine Mountain Festival celebrates the end of the summer alpine grazing season, when the herds return from the high-altitude pastures of Monte Baldo. In Piazza Statuto, an autumn day featuring the arrival of the animals, a market of local products, awards ceremonies, educational activities for children, and a food stand with carbonera polenta and Monte Baldo mountain pasture cheese. A festival that tells the story of the peasant and pastoral culture of the Verona side of Lake Garda.

The end-of-alpine-grazing festival

The Malcesine Mountain Festival celebrates the return of the herds from their summer grazing on the high-altitude pastures of Monte Baldo, in the territory of Malcesine, on Lake Garda in the province of Verona. A tradition that marks the rhythm of the mountain seasons and pastoral life.

A day in Piazza Statuto

The festival takes place in Piazza Statuto: in the morning, the arrival of the animals from the pastures, followed by the opening of the local products market and workshops for children, institutional greetings with awards, and at noon, the opening of the food stands. In the afternoon, educational activities with the animals and demonstrations on cheese making.

The flavours of the mountain pasture

The signature dish is carbonera polenta with Monte Baldo mountain pasture cheese, accompanied by local products: Malcesine extra virgin olive oil, cheeses, cured meats, and Bardolino wines. An opportunity to discover mountain culture through its authentic flavours. The festival is organised by the Tourism Department of the Municipality of Malcesine.

Mountain Festival — edition 2026

The Malcesine Mountain Festival returns on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in Piazza Statuto. From 7:30 AM, the arrival of animals from the Monte Baldo pastures; at 10:00 AM, the opening of the market and workshops for children; at noon, greetings and awards; at 12:30 PM, the food stands with carbonera polenta with mountain pasture cheese; and in the afternoon, educational activities with the animals.

The 2026 edition of the Malcesine Mountain Festival is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, 2026, in Piazza Statuto, celebrating the return of the herds from the Monte Baldo alpine pastures.

The day opens at 7:30 AM with the arrival of animals from the high-altitude pastures, continues with the local products market, workshops for children, institutional greetings and awards, and culminates with the food stands and carbonera polenta with Monte Baldo mountain pasture cheese. The festival is organised by the Tourism Department of the Municipality of Malcesine.

Programme Mountain Festival 2026

Sunday, October 25, 2026 — Piazza Statuto

  • 7:30 AM — Arrival of animals from the Monte Baldo pastures
  • 10:00 AM — Opening of the local products market and workshops for children
  • 12:00 PM — Institutional greetings and awards
  • 12:30 PM — Opening of the food stands: carbonera polenta with Monte Baldo mountain pasture cheese
  • 2:00 PM — Educational activities with animals and demonstrations on cheese making

Highlights Mountain Festival 2026

The arrival of the herds from Monte Baldo and the carbonera polenta with mountain pasture cheese.

Prices Mountain Festival 2026

Free admission festival; food stands with dishes for a fee.

Practical information — Mountain Festival

How to get there

Malcesine can be reached by car via the SS249 Gardesana Orientale, by ferry on Lake Garda, or by bus. The festival is held in Piazza Statuto.

When

In autumn (October), all day, with the animals arriving early in the morning.

Notes

Food stand with carbonera polenta. Local products market and educational activities for children.

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Where does it take place — Mountain Festival

Piazza Statuto

Piazza Statuto, 37018 Malcesine

Contact Mountain Festival

Tel
+39 045 6589904

Mountain Festival in brief

Gastronomy Local produce Farmers market Mountain Folk traditions Folklore Family Outdoor Verona

History of Mountain Festival