Ponti Polentone Festival
The oldest festival in the Asti Langa, featuring polenta, omelettes, and the legend of the Marquis Del Carretto
About Ponti Polentone
A tradition spanning over four centuries
The Polentone Festival is the signature event of Ponti, a village in the Asti Langa nestled in the Province of Alessandria, Piedmont. It is one of the oldest and most famous festivals in the region, transforming the village streets and squares into a vibrant gastronomic and folk hub for a day. The event is co-organized by the Pro Loco of Ponti and the Municipality of Ponti, traditionally kicking off the series of "polentone" festivals that characterize various towns in the area during Lent.
The legend of the Marquis Del Carretto
The origin of the festival is linked to an episode dating back to 1571. Legend has it that a group of coppersmiths from Dipignano, Calabria, arrived in Ponti seeking food and shelter from the noble Marquis Cristoforo Del Carretto, offering their copper-repairing skills in return. The Marquis promised them a large cauldron full of polenta flour if they could fix his massive pot. Having succeeded, Del Carretto kept his word with an abundant distribution of polenta. This gesture of solidarity sparked a tradition that still binds Ponti and Dipignano today in a twinning agreement renewed annually with an exchange of gifts between the two towns.
The festival dish
The heart of the festival is the non-stop distribution of polenta, cooked in giant cauldrons from the early morning and served hot with onion omelette and either cod (baccalà) or gorgonzola. Meals are served at the Soms premises, while the village streets also host alternative street food options for those seeking different flavors.
Parades, folklore, and markets
The day is about more than just food. The streets of Ponti come alive with a historical costume parade, accompanied by the Cassinese Band, the drummers of Canelli, and majorettes. The event also features folk performances, a market, a charity stall, an exhibition of vintage agricultural machinery, and an open-air painting competition. For children, there is entertainment, giant bubbles, and mini-pony rides at the sports field. The morning is also marked by Holy Mass, a moment of reflection preceding the great popular celebration.
An event to experience
Attending the Polentone Festival means immersing yourself in the most authentic soul of rural Piedmont: an entire community gathering around a cauldron of polenta, keeping a four-century-old memory alive. It is an ideal opportunity to discover Ponti, savor local products, and breathe in the genuine atmosphere of village festivals in the Asti Langa.
Ponti Polentone — edition 2026
La 456ª edizione della Sagra del Polentone si è tenuta a Ponti domenica 1 marzo 2026, aperta la sera prima dal tradizionale PolentParty. Come da tradizione, la giornata ha messo al centro la distribuzione della polenta con frittata di cipolle e merluzzo o gorgonzola, accompagnata da sfilate storiche, esibizioni folkloristiche e momenti di festa per tutta la comunità della Langa astigiana.
Programme Ponti Polentone 2026
Sabato 28 febbraio 2026 — PolentParty
- 19:30 — Aperitivo con musica al Circolo Soms di Ponti
- 22:00 — DJ set e animazione
Prenotazioni al numero 346 6749831.
Domenica 1 marzo 2026 — 456ª Sagra del Polentone
- 07:00 — Accensione dei fornelli per polenta e frittata
- 09:00 — Apertura iscrizioni all'estemporanea di pittura, mercatino ed esposizione di mezzi agricoli storici
- 10:30 — Santa Messa presieduta dal vescovo di Acqui Terme, monsignor Luigi Testore
- 12:00 — Inizio della distribuzione "no stop" di polenta con frittata di cipolle, merluzzo o gorgonzola (consumazione presso i locali Soms; street food alternativo disponibile)
- 14:00 — Esibizione del gruppo folkloristico "Cuj da Ribote", animazioni per bambini, bolle giganti (PazzAnimazione) e giri su mini pony al campo sportivo
- 14:30 — Sfilata storica con il Corpo Bandistico Cassinese, i tamburini di Canelli e le majorettes "Le Canelline"
- 16:00 — Scambio di omaggi tra i sindaci di Ponti (Antonella Poggio) e di Dipignano (Giuseppe Nicoletti)
- 16:30 — Premiazione dell'estemporanea di pittura e distribuzione finale del polentone
Highlights Ponti Polentone 2026
- La distribuzione "no stop" della polenta con frittata di cipolle e merluzzo o gorgonzola
- La sfilata storica in costume con bande, tamburini e majorettes
- Lo scambio di omaggi tra i sindaci di Ponti e Dipignano, simbolo del gemellaggio nato dalla leggenda del 1571
- Il PolentParty del sabato sera, con aperitivo, musica e DJ set
Prices Ponti Polentone 2026
Practical information — Ponti Polentone
When
The festival is traditionally held on the first Sunday of March in the historic center of Ponti (AL), with the evening PolentParty on the preceding Saturday at the Circolo Soms.
How to get there
Ponti can be reached by car from the Alessandria Sud motorway exit or from Acqui Terme, along the road connecting the Acqui area to the Asti Langa. For those arriving by train, the nearest station is Acqui Terme, from which you can continue by car or local connections.
Costs
Admission to the event is free. Polenta with omelette is distributed for a voluntary donation or at a popular price at the village distribution points.
Contacts
Pro Loco of Ponti, tel. +39 346 6749831 (also for PolentParty reservations). Municipality of Ponti, Piazza XX Settembre 1, tel. +39 0144 596142.
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Where does it take place — Ponti Polentone
Centro storico di Ponti
Piazza XX Settembre 1, 15010 Ponti