Roots Festival

A festival dedicated to the roots of the Tesino region

The Roots Festival is a cultural event held in Castello Tesino, a town in the Valsugana valley in the province of Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige. Created to honor the collective memory and identity of a land deeply shaped by emigration, the festival weaves together family history, genealogy, and folk traditions into a single day of meetings, workshops, and performances. The initiative is organized by the Pro Loco of Castello Tesino and the Centro Tesino di Cultura, in collaboration with the Italea Trentino Alto Adige network, which promotes the return to roots for Italians worldwide.

The land of travelers and peddlers

The Tesino region is known as the "land of travelers." From the 17th century until the mid-20th century, its inhabitants—the famous perteganti—would leave seasonally with their cassela (wooden cases) on their backs to sell flint and, above all, the celebrated popular prints. They traveled throughout Europe, from Spain to Russia, and even as far as the Americas, North Africa, and Asia. This vocation for emigration, also documented by the Per Via Museum and the Tesino Ecomuseum "Land of Travelers," is the central theme of the festival: rediscovering where we come from to better understand who we are.

The program

The day is traditionally divided into three parts, from morning to evening:

• Morning: A ceremony dedicated to memory and linguistic identity, presentation of results from the genealogy and family history workshop, and a conference on sustainable economic development of the territory, followed by a toast and tasting of local Tesino specialties.
• Afternoon: The "Roots of Traditional Fairy Tales" workshop, a narrative journey that brings the community's folk tales back to life.
• Evening: Screening of the film "Tyroleans in the Forest" and, outdoors, traditional dances performed by the local folk group, with tastings of canederli and mulled wine.

A widespread and participatory event

The Roots Festival in Castello Tesino is part of a broader project involving various Italian communities centered on the theme of migratory roots. The format is that of a widespread and participatory festival, inviting residents, descendants of emigrants, and visitors to rediscover genealogies, memories, and traditions. Admission is free, and the Cinema Teatro San Giorgio can accommodate up to 200 people.

Why attend

Those visiting Castello Tesino on this occasion will find much more than just an event: it is an immersion into the soul of a mountain community that has made travel and returning home its defining identity. Between conferences, family workshops, local flavors, and folk dances, the festival offers an authentic look at the traditions of the Valsugana and the Trentino-Alto Adige region.