Patron Saint's Festival "Viva San Prospero"

A Village Festival in the Heart of the Bassa Modenese

The Patron Saint's Festival "Viva San Prospero" is the most anticipated event of the year for the Municipality of San Prospero, a small town in the Bassa Modenese region of Modena province, Emilia-Romagna. Dedicated to Saint Prosper the Bishop, the town's patron saint, the festival is traditionally held on the last Sunday of November and transforms the entire inhabited centre into a large meeting space, where the religious dimension intertwines with the popular and convivial one.

Markets, Street Vendors, and Local Products

Throughout the day, the town's streets—from the centre to the Villa Tusini area—host a large fair with dozens of stalls: clothing, home goods, upholstery, various crafts, and hobbyist stalls. Local farmers and traders are also present, showcasing the region's excellences in front of the town hall. The fair is registered in the regional calendar of fairs in Emilia-Romagna, a sign of its continuity over time.

Traditional Gastronomy

The beating heart of the festival are the food and wine stalls, set up by the town's volunteer associations. Here, you can taste typical Modenese cuisine dishes and delicacies of the cold season: fried gnocco, rice and cod fritters, meatballs, zampone, roasted chestnuts, cakes, and the unmissable mulled wine to warm up. Past offerings have also included a tasting route dedicated to local wines and awards for the best balsamic vinegar and the best nocino, two symbolic products of the Modenese land.

Music, Motors, and Activities for Children

The day is enlivened by musical performances and, in various editions, by a concert by the "Do Re Mi" band. For motor enthusiasts, there have been rallies of vintage tractors at Villa Tusini and exhibitions of historic cars. An area is dedicated to children, with workshops and entertainment organised by the parents' committee as part of the "Together for School" initiative.

A Tradition that Unites the Town

"Viva San Prospero" is much more than a local festival: it is the moment when the entire community of San Prospero comes together, between devotion to the patron saint, volunteerism, and the desire to be together. The festival is organised by Pro Loco San Prospero in collaboration with volunteer associations, traders, and parents' committees, with the patronage of the Municipality of San Prospero.