Pomarolo in Festa & Maccheronata

A spring festival in the heart of Vallagarina

As the days grow longer and spring arrives in the Vallagarina valley, the town of Pomarolo—a small municipality in the Province of Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige—prepares for its most cherished event: Pomarolo in Festa. For three days, the Parco Arcobaleno on Piazzale Angheben becomes the community's beating heart, featuring live music, aperitifs, children's games, and plenty of delicious food. It is the event that, as locals say, officially opens the spring season.

The Maccheronata, a local tradition

The main event is the Sunday Maccheronata, a historic fixture on the Pomarolo calendar. The recipe is simple and generous: maccheroni with meat sauce, prepared and served to everyone in a convivial atmosphere that brings together families, young people, and seniors at the same tables. The tradition dates back to the 1970s, and in 2026, the Maccheronata celebrates its 56th edition, cementing its status as one of the longest-running spring festivals in the Vallagarina valley.

The Circolo Culturale Giovanile PLF

Behind the organization is the Circolo Culturale Giovanile PLF, an association founded in 1983 and renewed in 2007 with a new board and the name PLF. Throughout the year, the group enlivens Pomarolo with numerous initiatives—from post-Christmas Mass refreshments to Epiphany mulled wine, and from summer sports tournaments to the Sinergie Lagarine Festival—but the Maccheronata on the first Sunday of spring remains its signature event.

Part of the Vallagarina Carnival

Pomarolo in Festa and its Maccheronata are part of the broader Vallagarina Carnival program, a series of events that brings parades, parties, and culinary specialties to the valley's towns between late winter and early spring. Attending means experiencing an authentic celebration, far from mass tourism, where community, volunteer work, and the joy of being together are what truly count.

A free event for everyone

Admission is free, and the atmosphere is designed for families and children: Parco Arcobaleno features equipped play areas, including a castle, climbing structures, and swings. In case of bad weather, the event is postponed to the following weekend to ensure the festival and its unmissable Maccheronata take place.