May 1st Fair

A five-hundred-year-old fair in the heart of lower Piedmont

The May 1st Fair in Arquata Scrivia, located in lower Piedmont near Alessandria, is much more than just a market: it is an event with roots in the Middle Ages that, every year on the first of May, transforms the entire town into a vibrant space of celebration, commerce, and tradition. Also known as the Saints Philip and James Fair, it is one of the most important historical events in the region.

A history dating back to 1496

The fair is documented as early as the 1496 Statute of Arquata, in the section De nundinis, sive de feriis fiendis, which listed it alongside the fairs of Saint Bartholomew and Saint John the Baptist. At the time, the event lasted seven days—three days before and three days after the feast—and was a crucial moment for the community's economic life. The City Council managed its success by preparing suitable spaces like the "Market Square" (now Piazza Bertelli) and granting, through statutes and decrees, special incentives to attract merchants and buyers. For over five centuries, Arquata Scrivia has renewed this bond with its history.

What to find at the fair

Today, the May 1st Fair stretches for over two kilometers with about 400 stalls distributed along the main streets of the center, including Via Libarna, Via Serravalle, Viale Italia, Via Villini, Via Sant'Antonio, and Largo Mazzini. It is a true stroll through the stalls, where the selection is rich and varied:

• General goods: clothing, footwear, housewares, linens, leather goods, and gift items;
• Flowers, plants, and seeds, the stars of the spring season;
• Agricultural and livestock fair, with farming tools and vintage tractors that recall the area's rural vocation;
• Local and ethnic handicrafts;
• Street food and gastronomic specialties along the route.

Funfair and festive atmosphere

The heart of the entertainment is the funfair set up in Piazza dei Caduti, with rides and attractions that draw families and young people throughout the day. During the fair, local shops also remain open, contributing to a festive atmosphere that involves the entire town. Admission is completely free.

An identity-defining event for the region

The May 1st Fair is now a classic spring appointment for the Municipality of Arquata Scrivia and the entire Piedmont region. Thanks to its location along the Scrivia Valley, just a stone's throw from Liguria, it attracts thousands of visitors every year from the Alessandria area, the Genoa region, and neighboring territories, confirming its status as one of the most popular and cherished fairs in lower Piedmont.