Saint Celestine Festival
The patronal feast of Castelnuovo Rangone with markets, flavours, and traditions
About Saint Celestine
The patronal feast of Castelnuovo Rangone
The Saint Celestine Festival is the patronal event of Castelnuovo Rangone, a municipality in the province of Modena that is part of the Unione Terre di Castelli, in Emilia-Romagna. The festival is dedicated to Saint Celestine I Pope, the town's patron saint, after whom the parish church is named. The church was built around the mid-19th century based on a design by architect Cesare Costa and is adorned with an altarpiece by the Modenese painter Adeodato Malatesta.
For one day, the historic centre transforms into a large open-air market: a genuine, free village festival suitable for everyone, blending popular devotion, peasant tradition, and the Emilian spring desire to be together.
Markets and stalls
The heart of the day are the numerous markets that animate streets and squares from morning onwards:
- Bel Mercato, with selected products and quality crafts;
- organic farmers' market, dedicated to local excellences;
- arts and crafts market, with handmade creations and objects;
- the usual street market and the Saturday market.
Gastronomy, exhibitions, and games
Between strolls, there are plenty of food stalls offering the flavours of Modenese cuisine and the midday brunch accompanied by music. There is also space for exhibitions, including a display of electric cars and bikes dedicated to sustainable mobility, while the youngest can have fun with traditional wooden games, rediscovering the pastimes of yesteryear.
The urban trek
In recent years, the festival has been enriched with an offer focused on discovering the territory: an urban trekking route that, accompanied by an environmental hiking guide, leads to the discovery of the most picturesque places between Castelnuovo and the hamlet of Montale. The walk starts from the town centre and is an opportunity to experience the festival outdoors, amidst the nature and landscape of the Emilian plain.
A community event
Organized by the Municipality of Castelnuovo Rangone together with the Unione Terre di Castelli, the Saint Celestine Festival is above all a community celebration: an opportunity to gather in the square, support local activities, and celebrate the identity of a town in the Modenese plain also famous for its charcuterie and gastronomic traditions.
Saint Celestine — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Saint Celestine Festival took place on Sunday, April 12 in the centre of Castelnuovo Rangone (Modena), confirming the formula of the village patronal feast with markets, flavours, and traditions.
From the morning, the town streets hosted the Bel Mercato, the organic farmers' market, the arts and crafts market, as well as the street market and the usual Saturday market. For the little ones, traditional wooden games were set up, while adults could stop at the food stalls or the midday brunch accompanied by music.
Among the proposals for this edition was also an exhibition of electric cars and bikes dedicated to sustainable mobility. The day also provided an opportunity to inaugurate a new urban trekking route: the departure was scheduled for 9:30 AM from Piazza Bertoni, at the CEAS Valle del Panaro stand, to continue along the itinerary accompanied by an environmental hiking guide to discover the most picturesque places between Castelnuovo and Montale.
Programme Saint Celestine 2026
Sunday, April 12, 2026
- From morning — Opening of markets in the historic centre: Bel Mercato, organic farmers' market, arts and crafts market, street market, and Saturday market
- 9:30 AM — Departure of the urban trek from Piazza Bertoni (CEAS Valle del Panaro stand), with an environmental hiking guide, along the route between Castelnuovo and Montale
- All day — Traditional wooden games for children; exhibition of electric cars and bikes; food stalls
- Midday — Brunch accompanied by music
Program distributed by organizers and local press; stall and brunch times not detailed in public sources.
Highlights Saint Celestine 2026
Inauguration of the new urban trekking route between Castelnuovo and Montale, the Bel Mercato in the historic centre, and the midday brunch accompanied by music.
Prices Saint Celestine 2026
Practical information — Saint Celestine
When
The Saint Celestine Festival takes place in spring, on a Sunday in April, in the historic centre of Castelnuovo Rangone (MO).
How to get there
By car: Castelnuovo Rangone is accessible from the A1 motorway (Modena Sud exit) or the A22 Brennero motorway, about 12 km south of Modena. By train: Modena station, then intercity bus lines towards Castelnuovo Rangone. By plane: Bologna Airport (G. Marconi), about 50 km away.
Admission
Entry to the festival and markets is free. Food stalls and brunch are à la carte.
Information
Unione Terre di Castelli - tel. +39 059 777511 - [email protected]. For the urban trek, booking at the CEAS Valle del Panaro stand is recommended.
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Where does it take place — Saint Celestine
Centro storico di Castelnuovo Rangone
Piazza Bertoni, 41051 Castelnuovo Rangone