Pestello Festival - Gnamo alla Festa

A tradition spanning over sixty years

The Pestello Festival is one of the most beloved and enduring popular events in Montevarchi, a town in the Valdarno area of the province of Arezzo, in the heart of Tuscany. Originally a local neighborhood celebration, it is now the longest-running festival in the Municipality of Montevarchi, gathering the local community every year around the affectionate motto "Gnamo alla festa". The 2026 edition marked its 66th year, a testament to a continuity rarely seen in the landscape of Tuscan village festivals.

Where it takes place

The heart of the festival is the Don Luigi Savelli Gardens, in the green area of Pestello, named after the event's founder. For an entire weekend, the space transforms into a hub of meeting and participation, featuring a stage for performances, a food court, stalls, and areas dedicated to children. Admission is completely free.

Music, performances, and entertainment

The program alternates between musical evenings and moments dedicated to families. Recurring highlights include musical aperitifs with DJ sets, disco and revival nights, Sunday Afro rhythms, and cabaret shows featuring local guests closely tied to the event. There is no shortage of group and partner dancing, performances by local dance schools, and the traditional Sunday tombola.

• Musical aperitifs and evening DJ sets
• Disco, pop, and rock revival nights with live bands
• Afro Sunday with DJs and group dancing
• Cabaret shows with local guests
• Children's entertainment: puppets, face painting, baby dance, and storytelling
• Tombola and charity raffle

The gastronomy of Pestello

One of the strengths of the Pestello Festival is its cuisine, featuring traditional Valdarno and Tuscan dishes. The historic star is the arrosto girato alla pestellese (spit-roasted meat), accompanied by pizza, sandwiches, schiacce, arrosticini, and numerous other specialties, including gluten-free options. In recent years, the menu has been enriched with novelties like "Gnamoccoli", a signature dish tied to the festival's name.

Solidarity and sustainability

The event maintains a strong social vocation: over the years, it has hosted prevention and awareness initiatives related to the Valdarno area and has adopted eco-friendly choices such as the use of reusable tableware and cups to reduce environmental impact. The Pestello Festival remains a point of reference for the neighborhood and all of Montevarchi, capable of uniting fun, tradition, and commitment.