Merry Christmas in Collevecchio (Christmas Polenta and Befana Festival)

Community Christmas in Collevecchio

In the heart of the Sabina region, perched on a hill overlooking the Tiber valley, the village of Collevecchio (Province of Rieti, Lazio) hosts the «Merry Christmas in Collevecchio» festival every year. This series of events, curated by the Pro Loco Collevecchio, is dedicated to the warmest weeks of winter. It is not just a single event, but a mini-season filled with music, communal tables, and games, accompanying the town from Advent through to Epiphany.

The Advent Polenta Feast at Parco Matteotti

The most anticipated moment is the Christmas Polenta, the grand feast held at Parco Matteotti. At the laden tables, guests are served polenta with sausages and spare ribs, accompanied by desserts, fruit, water, and wine: a humble and generous dish from the Sabina farming tradition, which here becomes an opportunity for families, friends, and visitors to gather. Participation is limited and requires a reservation to ensure everyone has a seat at the table and can enjoy the warmth of the conviviality.

The Befana Arrives!

The festival concludes on Epiphany, January 6th, with the Befana Festival at the Municipal Theatre in Collevecchio. The afternoon is dedicated to children: the Befana distributes stockings to all the little ones, and there is no shortage of tombola (bingo), a traditional game that brings the festivities to a cheerful close. It is the moment when the village's historic theatre fills with voices and laughter, renewing a ritual that has accompanied generations of Collevecchio residents.

Solidarity and Music

The Christmas program does not forget those on the fringes of the festivities: the events also include a musical performance brought to the local nursing home, a sign of a community that wants to include everyone in the holiday spirit. It is this dimension of closeness, rather than spectacle, that gives meaning to the festival.

A Village to Discover in Winter

Visiting Collevecchio during the holidays also means discovering one of the most beautiful villages in the Rieti Sabina: a former fiefdom of popes and lords, and long the seat of the papal governorship, the town preserves noble palaces, churches, and terraces overlooking the countryside. The Pro Loco festival is the perfect opportunity to combine a stroll through the historic alleys with a genuine lunch and an authentic village celebration, far from the big crowds and close to local traditions.