Rendena Breed Heifers. Parade and More
The festival celebrating breeders and the Rendena cattle breed in Pinzolo, in the heart of Val Rendena
About Rendena Breed Heifers
A festival rooted in farming tradition
Every year, between late August and early September, the town of Pinzolo in Val Rendena (Province of Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige) hosts Rendena Breed Heifers. Parade and More, one of the most cherished livestock and cultural events in Trentino. The festival pays homage to the historic San Michele Fair and celebrates the Rendena cattle breed, known for its dark brown coat and medium-small size, which is perfectly suited for high-mountain pastures and prized for both its milk and meat.
The Rendena breed, the heart of the valley
Val Rendena is the cradle of this native breed: the area is home to dozens of farms and approximately 1,500 head of cattle that spend the summer grazing in the high-altitude pastures of the Adamello Brenta Nature Park. The event showcases how livestock farming and rural traditions remain deeply rooted and play a vital economic role for the Rendena community.
A week of events
The program spans several days, offering a blend of flavors, sports, and rural culture:
- Rendena Food Festival: a gastronomic area dedicated to authentic local valley products;
- Giovenche Music Fest: an evening designed for younger crowds, reinterpreting tradition with modern music and entertainment;
- Horseback excursions through the pastures, organized by Val Rendena equestrian centers;
- Giovenche Sport Camp: a week of outdoor activities for children, exploring pastures and agricultural traditions;
- Visits to mountain dairies (malghe), creative workshops, farmers' markets, and tastings hosted by around sixty local establishments participating in the initiative dedicated to rural Val Rendena.
The grand finale: the parade and the Little Queen
The highlight is the Breeders' Festival: in the morning, the livestock exhibition takes place, followed by the selection of the Reginetta di Pinzolo, the heifer judged most beautiful by an expert from over 150 candidates. This is followed by a traditional lunch under the marquee and, in the afternoon, the evocative parade of breeders in traditional costume, with heifers adorned in alpine flowers, winding through the town streets to Piazzale San Vigilio. In the evening, the young handlers' competition invites children to demonstrate their calf-handling skills before the highly anticipated crowning of the year's Little Queen.
An authentic experience in Val Rendena
Organized by the Pinzolo Pro Loco in collaboration with the Heifer Committee, the municipal administration, the Val Rendena Breeders' Union, and numerous local associations, the festival is a unique opportunity to experience the most authentic soul of the Trentino Dolomites, where the farming world meets tourism.
Rendena Breed Heifers — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Rendena Breed Heifers. Parade and More, the eighteenth, will bring Pinzolo and Val Rendena to life from August 28 to September 5, 2026.
The program kicks off on Friday, August 28, with the Rendena Food Festival, dedicated to the valley's typical products, followed on Saturday, August 29, by the Giovenche Music Fest, a musical evening designed for younger audiences. Sunday, August 30, features a horseback excursion through the pastures of the Adamello Brenta Nature Park, while from late August to September 5, the Giovenche Sport Camp offers outdoor activities for children.
The grand finale takes place on Saturday, September 5: in the morning, the livestock exhibition and the selection of the Little Queen, the traditional lunch under the marquee at 12:30 PM, and in the afternoon, the parade of breeders in traditional costume with heifers adorned in alpine flowers. In the evening, after the young handlers' competition, the proclamation of the 2026 Reginetta di Pinzolo.
Programme Rendena Breed Heifers 2026
2026 Program
- Sunday, August 16 — Presentation of the event with live music (Rhendena Klänge group) and participants in costume with carriages
- Friday, August 28 — Rendena Food Festival: gastronomic area with typical valley products
- Saturday, August 29 — Giovenche Music Fest: musical evening and entertainment for young people
- Sunday, August 30 — Horseback excursion through the pastures and local gastronomy in the Adamello Brenta Nature Park
- August 31 to September 5 — Giovenche Sport Camp: outdoor activities for children, in collaboration with Body Village
- Saturday, September 5 — Breeders' Festival: livestock exhibition and selection of the Little Queen in the morning, traditional lunch at 12:30 PM under the marquee, afternoon parade of breeders in costume; evening young handlers' competition (ages 7-14) and at 9:00 PM proclamation of the 2026 Reginetta di Pinzolo
Highlights Rendena Breed Heifers 2026
- 18th edition of the event
- Parade of breeders in traditional costume with over 150 heifers
- Election of the 2026 Reginetta di Pinzolo
- Rendena Food Festival and Giovenche Music Fest
- Horseback excursions, sports camp for children, and local tastings
Prices Rendena Breed Heifers 2026
Practical information — Rendena Breed Heifers
How to get there
Pinzolo is located in Val Rendena, in western Trentino. By car, it can be reached via the A22 Brenner motorway (Trento exit), continuing through the Giudicarie Valleys and Val Rendena. The nearest train station is Trento, which is connected to Pinzolo by regional bus lines.
Prices
Access to the squares, the parade, and the livestock exhibition is generally free. Tastings, traditional lunches under the marquee, and certain activities (excursions, sports camps) may have a fee. It is recommended to check details on official channels.
Where to stay
Pinzolo and nearby towns (Madonna di Campiglio, Carisolo, Giustino) offer a wide selection of hotels, guesthouses (garni), and farm stays (agriturismi). About 60 establishments participate in the initiative dedicated to discovering rural Val Rendena.
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Where does it take place — Rendena Breed Heifers
Piazzale San Vigilio