Montalupa in Festa

A festival born around a park

Nestled in the greenery of the Macellai hamlet, just a few kilometers from the center of Pocapaglia, lies the Parco di Montalupa: a flat expanse of over five thousand square meters crossed by the La Gera stream, which originates from the nearby Rocche di Pocapaglia. Over the years, Montalupa in Festa has grown around this green space—restored and maintained through the tireless work of volunteers. This community festival inaugurates the season every spring, celebrating the park's role as a budding natural oasis in the heart of the Roero region, in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont.

An afternoon for the whole community

The day is designed as a great gathering for families, children, and local residents. The program alternates between performances, music, workshops, and artistic demonstrations in a simple, welcoming atmosphere. Highlights from recent editions include:

• musical performances by students of the Scuola Musicale Pasqualino Messa and children from the Macellai primary school with the "Cantallegro" choir;
• live demonstrations by Piedmontese sculptor Fabrizio Gandino, who created wooden artworks with a chainsaw, later donated to the park;
• games and workshops dedicated to children;
• the inauguration of the new playground and the Tree of Life.

The afternoon always concludes with the merenda sinoira, the traditional Piedmontese late-afternoon snack-dinner organized by the local ACLI club, a convivial occasion that brings volunteers and visitors together around the table.

A network of volunteers

The success of the festival is due to the dense network of local associations: Comuneroero ODV and the Amici di Montalupa, supported by the Alpini, Civil Protection, Pro Loco, ACLI, Laudato sì Bra, and many local volunteers. Together, they manage not only the event but also the park's maintenance, through cleaning days and biodiversity projects, such as the "Boschi in connessione" (Connected Woods) trail between Saliceto and Macellai.

Why attend

Montalupa in Festa is much more than a simple fair: it is a celebration of a common good built from the ground up. For those visiting the Roero, it is an opportunity to discover an authentic corner of Pocapaglia, far from the main tourist flows, where the community gathers around nature, music, and good food.