Offella Festival

The biscuit that gives the festival its name

The Offella Festival is the event that every early October celebrates in Parona, in the province of Pavia, in the heart of Lomellina, the sweet that bears the town's name: the offella. This typical biscuit was born at the end of the 19th century from the hands of the Colli sisters and became traditionally linked to the feast of the Madonna del Rosario, when it was offered to visiting relatives and friends. Its recipe, jealously guarded, is today protected by a quality mark established by the Pro Loco.

A tradition lasting since 1969

The festival has been held since 1969 and has grown to become one of the best-known events in Lomellina, capable of attracting thousands of visitors. Nicknamed "the sweetest festival in Lomellina," it combines the promotion of the typical product with the charm of a large town festival, animating squares and streets around Piazza Nuova, the ancient mills, and the church of San Siro.

Stands, funfair, and shows

Throughout the weekend, the town fills with food stands where you can taste and buy the offella, musical performances, a funfair, and craft stalls. It's an opportunity to discover the cuisine and traditions of Lomellina, a land of rice paddies between Vigevano, Mortara, and Cilavegna.

The grand Sunday parade

The highlight of the festival is the Sunday parade, when the band, fanfare, majorettes, and characteristic artisanal floats, expressions of the creativity and work of the town's associations, parade through the streets of Parona. Organized by the Pro Loco Parona Lomellina, the festival is a moment of strong community identity for the entire territory.