Po Festival

The Great River festival in Boretto

The Po Festival is one of the most beloved popular events in the lower Reggio Emilia area: a summer appointment that has enlivened the Lido Po in Boretto for over sixty years, a town overlooking the Great River in the province of Reggio Emilia, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. Organized by the Pro Loco of Boretto in collaboration with the Municipality, the festival celebrates the deep bond between the town and its river, in a territory that is part of the Lands of the Po and the Gonzagas.

PiroPo – Lights on the River

The most anticipated moment is PiroPo – Lights on the River, the pyrotechnic and pyromusical show that is mirrored in the waters of the Po. Lights and fireworks create choreographies on the water, while the torchlight procession by the Canoa Team Boretto Po anticipates the lighting of the fireworks from the river. It is one of the most evocative summer events in the province, capable of attracting thousands of people to the banks of the Great River.

Street food, music, and street artists

The festival evening is not just about fireworks: the Lido Po area fills with food trucks, local restaurants, and food stalls, while street artists and itinerant shows perform in the town's streets. The atmosphere is that of the great Emilian riverside festivals, where conviviality, good food, and the view of the river merge into a single popular experience.

A tradition born in 1961

The roots of the Po Festival date back to 1961, when the Po was considered "the sea of the poor": a place for recreation, swimming, and socializing for the riverside communities. Since then, the festival has grown to become a regular fixture of the summer season, a symbol of the river identity of Boretto and the entire Po Reggiano territory.

An experience between river and community

Participating in the Po Festival means experiencing the Great River in its most festive and communal dimension. Between the reflection of the fireworks on the water, the aroma of street food, and the joy of the crowd, the Boretto event tells the deep soul of the Emilian lowlands and its age-old relationship with the Po.