Ruina Festival

A festival born from solidarity

The Ruina Festival takes place in the small, ancient Ruina district, one of the historic neighborhoods of Pinzolo, a town in Val Rendena in the province of Trento, in the heart of Trentino-Alto Adige. Nestled at the foot of the Brenta Dolomites and the Adamello massif, it is one of the most cherished events of the Pinzolo summer: not just a simple village fair, but a true solidarity festival where every cent raised is donated to the poorest populations of Peru.

The origins: from the Andean cholera outbreak to a Pinzolo district

The festival was "invented" in 1991 to answer a desperate call for help from the Peruvian Andes, which were being devastated by a severe cholera epidemic at the time. Since then, the event has become a fixed, deeply rooted appointment, even drawing back the descendants of families who emigrated from the area: many return to the district their grandparents and great-grandparents left in search of work, rediscovering their roots alongside a spirit of shared humanity.

Operazione Mato Grosso

The event is linked to Operazione Mato Grosso, a Catholic-inspired volunteer movement active in Latin America with projects focused on education, vocational training, and aid for the most vulnerable. The funds raised during the festival support missions in the Andes, giving the celebration a meaning that goes far beyond simple entertainment.

What to experience at the festival

The heart of the solidarity day, held on Sunday, opens in the morning with stalls featuring traditional sweets prepared by the women of the district and Andean handicrafts, items crafted in Peruvian villages. The afternoon is dedicated to street games for all ages, a parade and concert by the local municipal band, and Holy Mass animated by a missionary. Highlights include:

• Stalls with homemade sweets and South American handicrafts;
• Traditional street games (foosball, darts, and activities for children);
• Parade and concert by the Pinzolo municipal band;
• Holy Mass with missionary testimonials;
• Traditional Trentino dinner with polenta, sausages, pork chops, and local wine;
• Evening dance with live music in the square.

An event in the heart of Val Rendena

Set among the historic streets of Pinzolo, just a stone's throw from Madonna di Campiglio and the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park, the Ruina Festival offers summer tourists in Trentino an authentic opportunity to get to know the local community, taste mountain flavors, and support a concrete cause. It is a meeting point between the tradition of Trentino village festivals and the generosity of an entire district that, for over thirty years, has looked toward Peru.