Piacentino Shallot Festival
The festival celebrating the prized shallot of Castelvetro Piacentino
About Shallot Festival
A Festival Dedicated to the Shallot King
The Piacentino Shallot Festival is held in Castelvetro Piacentino, a town in the lower Piacenza region overlooking the Po River, in the province of Piacenza, within the Emilia-Romagna region. Born in 2014 on the initiative of the Pro Loco, the event celebrates the Piacentino shallot, a bulb from the liliaceae family, distinct from both garlic and onion, with a sweeter and more delicate taste, long cultivated in the fertile lands along the river.
Four Days of Festivities in Piazza del Comune
The heart of the festival is Piazza del Comune, where every evening, starting from 7 PM, the Pro Loco's food stands open. The menu entirely revolves around the shallot, the star of appetizers, first courses, main courses, and side dishes of Piacenza cuisine, revisited to enhance its flavour. Alongside the dining, the event features live music, ballroom dancing with an orchestra, performances, comedy, a funfair, and street food stalls, with local radio broadcasts livening up the evenings.
Cooking Demonstrations and Local Promotion
Among the most anticipated events are the cooking demonstrations led by chefs connected to the region, who show the public how the shallot can become an ingredient in refined cuisine. The festival is also an occasion for agricultural discussion: the product has been the subject of varietal studies conducted with the Catholic University of Piacenza to improve its quality and cultivation.
A National Recognition
In March 2026, the Piacentino Shallot Festival received the National Quality Festival mark in Rome, at the Senate, awarded by UNPLI (National Union of Pro Loco of Italy). This award recognizes events that authentically promote local typical products and tourist hospitality. A milestone that confirms the growth of an event that has become a benchmark for the lower Piacenza region and for food and wine enthusiasts.
Why Participate
- Discover the Piacentino shallot, the region's signature product, in traditional dishes.
- Experience evenings filled with music, dancing, comedy, and shows in Piazza del Comune.
- Attend cooking demonstrations with local chefs.
- An authentic festival, nationally awarded, in the heart of the lower Piacenza region.
Shallot Festival — edition 2026
Eleventh Edition
The Piacentino Shallot Festival returns to Castelvetro Piacentino for its eleventh edition, confirmed directly by the Pro Loco following the achievement of the national Quality Festival mark from UNPLI, awarded at the Senate in March 2026.
As tradition dictates, the festival will be held in Piazza del Comune on the first weekend of September, with food stands dedicated to the shallot, evenings of live music, dancing, comedy, and cooking demonstrations. Exact dates and the full program will be published by the organizers in the weeks preceding the event.
Highlights Shallot Festival 2026
- Eleventh edition confirmed by the Pro Loco.
- National Quality Festival mark from UNPLI obtained in 2026.
- Shallot-based food stands in Piazza del Comune.
Prices Shallot Festival 2026
Practical information — Shallot Festival
How to Get There
Castelvetro Piacentino is located on the right bank of the Po River, opposite Cremona, in the province of Piacenza. By car, it can be reached from the A21 (Cremona exit) or via the state road along the Po; the nearest train station is Cremona, a few kilometers away.
When
The event traditionally takes place on the first weekend of September, in Piazza del Comune.
Admission and Dining
Admission to the festival is free; the Pro Loco's food stands generally open from 7 PM, with payment per consumption.
Contacts
Pro Loco Castelvetro Piacentino - email [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Shallot Festival
Piazza del Comune