Saint Catherine's Fair

The Patron Saint's Fair of Comunanza

The Saint Catherine's Fair is the most traditional event in the calendar of Comunanza, a mountain village in the Province of Ascoli Piceno, in Marche. It takes place every year on the days around November 25th, the liturgical feast day of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of the Municipality, and transforms the streets and squares of the historic center into a large open-air market.

Saint Catherine, Patron Saint of Comunanza

Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a virgin and martyr who lived according to tradition between the 3rd and 4th centuries, is venerated as the protector of students, philosophers, teachers, and many artisan crafts. In Comunanza, her memory has been linked for centuries to a fair that combined religious devotion with commercial exchange, following a model widespread throughout the Marche region: the patron saint's feast day also became an occasion for meeting, trade, and social interaction for the communities of the surrounding valleys.

Stalls, Local Products, and Tradition

For an entire day, the center of Comunanza comes alive with dozens of stalls and vendors. Along the streets, there are exhibitors of all kinds:

• Agri-food products and gastronomic specialties from the Sibillini Mountains area;
• Handicrafts, decorative items, clothing, and household goods;
• Traditional sweets, roasted chestnuts, and delicacies of the autumn season;
• Stands from hobbyists, itinerant vendors, and public market operators.

The allocation of stalls is done through a specific tender by the Municipality of Comunanza, managed by the Office of Vigilance, Fairs, and Markets, confirming the historical and regulated nature of the event.

A Late Autumn Event

Held at the end of November, Saint Catherine's Fair marks the transition towards winter and the approach of the Christmas holidays in the local calendar. It is an opportunity to rediscover Comunanza, a village overlooking the Aso river valley and the gateway to the southern side of the Sibillini Mountains, and to experience a day of celebration with tradition, taste, and community. Admission is free.