OVIS – Pastoralism Festival

The 2025 edition of OVIS – Pastoralism Festival dedicated its two days to the leading role of women in the pastoral world: female breeders, artisans, entrepreneurs, and trainers as the key to a renewing profession.

Saturday, October 11 opened with the national conference Shaping the Pastoralism of the Future, promoted by Slow Food and D.R.E.A.M. Italia at the conclusion of the second Masterclass of the Calascio School of Specialization for Extensive Pastoralism. This was followed by a free tasting of local products in Piazza della Repubblica, the meeting Women and Pastoralism in the church of San Leonardo, the creative workshop for children PecorArte, and in the evening, The Night of the Sheep: a dinner featuring mutton, wine, and live music with Zeft Live and DJ Veneno.

Sunday, October 12 was dedicated to the transmission of knowledge with the workshops Weaves of Abruzzo (wool carding, bobbin lace, weaving), the networking event FILA – Innovation by Women, the screening of the documentary In the Silence of the Stones – Rocca Calascio, and a cheesemaking demonstration. An edition that confirmed Calascio as a national laboratory for the future of the Apennine inland areas.

Saturday, October 11, 2025

• Morning — Conference "Shaping the Pastoralism of the Future. Skills and approaches for relaunching the shepherd's trade", organized by Slow Food and D.R.E.A.M. Italia, concluding the second Masterclass of the School of Specialization for Extensive Pastoralism (Council Chamber)
• Noon — Free tasting of local products in Piazza della Repubblica
• 16:00 — Women and Pastoralism: testimonies from entrepreneurs and breeders (church of San Leonardo)
• From 16:00 — PecorArte, free creative workshop for children aged 3 and up
• Evening — The Night of the Sheep: dinner with mutton and wine, featuring live music by Zeft Live and DJ Veneno

Sunday, October 12, 2025

• 10:00 — Weaves of Abruzzo: workshops on wool carding, L'Aquila bobbin lace, and weaving (church of San Leonardo)
• Morning — FILA: Innovation by Women, networking event for female-led businesses (Municipal office)
• Afternoon — Continuation of PecorArte
• 17:00-18:00 — Screening of the 1968 documentary "In the Silence of the Stones – Rocca Calascio"
• Closing — Cheesemaking demonstration by Vittoria Pizzoferrato

Focus on the role of women in pastoralism; national conference Shaping the Pastoralism of the Future with Slow Food and D.R.E.A.M. Italia; The Night of the Sheep dinner with live music (Zeft Live, DJ Veneno); Weaves of Abruzzo workshops on wool and bobbin lace.