Rice Festival

The Rice Festival in the Vercelli Baraggia

Every year in mid-June, the town of Buronzo transforms into the capital of rice. Located in the Baraggia, the plateau in the Province of Vercelli famous for its rice paddies and PDO rice, Buronzo dedicates an entire festival to the cereal that has defined the economy and cuisine of this part of Piedmont for centuries. The Rice Festival, organized by the Comitato Buronzese Feste e Cultura, is now a historic fixture in the local summer calendar.

Three days of taste and tradition

The event takes place in Piazza Colonnello G. Solano, in the town's market area, and offers a program that weaves together gastronomy, music, and solidarity. Friday evening kicks off with a night entirely dedicated to risotto tasting, accompanied by live music and DJ sets. On Saturday, the festival restaurant offers fried fish as the evening's specialty, followed by dancing under the stars.

Sunday is the most comprehensive day: it begins in the morning with the "Every Step Counts" charity walk, a 5-kilometer route suitable for everyone, continues with lunch in the square at noon, and concludes with dinner and the unmissable dance evening.

Traditional Piedmontese dishes

The heart of the festival is the local cuisine. In addition to the starring risottos, the kitchen serves panissa, the iconic dish of the Vercelli Baraggia made with rice, beans, pork rind, and salam d'la duja, along with other traditional peasant specialties:

• Homemade agnolotti
• Piedmontese-style snails
• Braised oven-baked shank
• Grilled meats
• Fried fish

Everything is washed down with local wines, in a menu that tells the story of the humble yet generous cuisine of rural Piedmont.

A community celebration

More than just a gastronomic festival, the Rice Festival is a gathering place for the community of Buronzo and the neighboring towns of the Baraggia. The dance evenings, featuring orchestras and musical duos, attract fans of ballroom dancing, while the charity walk combines light exercise with a good cause. For those visiting the Province of Vercelli, it is a perfect opportunity to discover authentic Piedmontese hospitality and the genuine flavors of a territory where rice is culture even before it is food.