Saint Anthony's Macaroni Festival

The festival that preserves the memory of the Mascarino Pasta Factory

The Saint Anthony's Macaroni Festival is one of the most heartfelt traditional festivals in the hamlet of Mascarino, in the Municipality of Castello d'Argile, in the heart of the Bolognese plain. The event takes place in the space of the Former Pasta Factory Car Park, a place of strong symbolic value: it was precisely there that the ancient Mascarino Pasta Factory stood, an activity that marked the productive and social history of the town and whose memory the macaroni festival aims to keep alive. Eating a plate of macaroni together in that specific place is, for the inhabitants, a way to reconnect with their identity.

An evening of community between faith and tradition

The festival is held on the occasion of the feast of Saint Anthony and maintains a close link with the parish of Mascarino Venezzano. The religious moment blends with the convivial one: during the evening, the blessing of the parish priest, Don Fortunato, is scheduled, accompanied by greetings from the municipal authorities. It is a typical balance of village festivals in Emilia-Romagna, where the calendar of saints continues to mark the rhythms of collective life.

The evening's program

The event opens in the late afternoon and continues into the evening, with a program designed to involve all ages:

• 6:30 PM — performance by the "Insieme si può fare" association with the "Musicaterapiando" music therapy project, a moment dedicated to inclusion and participation;
• 7:00 PM — blessing by parish priest Don Fortunato and speech by Mayor Alessandro Erriquez;
• Following — opening of the food stand with the famous macaroni with ragù, accompanied by wine and water;
• 8:00 PM — traditional game of briscola, the playful heart of the evening.

Flavors of the Bolognese plain

The absolute protagonists of the table are the macaroni with ragù, a symbol of Emilian cuisine and a tribute to the town's pasta-making tradition. The food stand, managed by the association's volunteers, offers an essential and popular formula, where the quality of the dish and the convivial atmosphere matter more than anything else.

An event curated by volunteers

The Saint Anthony's Macaroni Festival is organized by the association ViviAmo Mascarino APS, in collaboration with the local parish and with the support of the Municipality of Castello d'Argile. It is an event entirely animated by volunteers, which well represents the spirit of the small hamlets of Emilia-Romagna: an opportunity to get together, support the village's associative life, and pass on traditions to new generations.