Saint Florian Festival

The firefighters' festival in the Mòcheni Valley

The Saint Florian Festival is the annual event through which the small municipality of Fierozzo (Vlaröt in the Mòcheni language), in the autonomous province of Trento, pays homage to the patron saint of firefighters. Every year in early May, the Fierozzo/Vlaröt Volunteer Fire Department organizes a day that weaves together religious, civil, and community dimensions, drawing citizens, authorities, and volunteers from across the Upper Valsugana and Bersntol.

An event in the heart of the Mòcheni minority

Fierozzo is one of the three municipalities of the Mòcheni Valley (Bersntol), along with Frassilongo and Palù del Fersina, where the Mòcheni language—a Bavarian-origin dialect brought to these mountains in the 13th century—still survives. In this context, the Saint Florian Festival is not just a celebration for a rescue service, but an identity-defining moment where the community comes together: civil protection, local associations, and volunteerism have always revolved around the volunteer firefighters, serving as the pillars of life in a village of a few hundred inhabitants nestled in the green Fersina Valley.

The day's program

The festival takes place over the course of a full day, with the Volunteer Fire Department barracks serving as the heart of the celebrations:

• Mass in the church, a celebration in honor of Saint Florian;
• Official ceremony with the participation of provincial and municipal authorities;
• Community lunch at noon, held at tables set up for the occasion;
• Non-competitive race in the afternoon between the district's fire brigades, featuring demonstrations and skill tests.

Tradition, solidarity, and territory

The Saint Florian Festival tells the story of the deep bond between Fierozzo and its volunteers, who are called upon to intervene primarily in forest fires, accidents, and support for helicopter rescue operations in a challenging mountain territory. The day thus becomes an opportunity to thank those who serve and, at the same time, to enjoy a moment of conviviality and celebration in one of the most characteristic valleys of Trentino-Alto Adige. Those visiting the Mòcheni Valley on this occasion will find an authentic event, far from the major tourist flows, where the community shows itself in its most genuine form.