Saint George Patronal Feast (Mercurago)

The patronal feast of Mercurago

The Saint George Patronal Feast is the most cherished event of the year for Mercurago, a small and lively district of the municipality of Arona, in the province of Novara, overlooking Lake Maggiore in Piedmont. Dedicated to Saint George the Martyr, the community's patron, the feast takes place around April 23rd and transforms the village into a place of reflection, gathering, and shared tradition.

The religious celebration

The heart of the day is the solemn mass celebrated in the parish church of San Giorgio, presided over by the parish priest together with the priests of the pastoral community that unites the parishes of Arona, Dagnente, Mercurago, and Montrigiasco. The liturgy is brought to life by local choirs, including the San Giorgio Choir and the Tre Ponti Choir, whose singing makes the participation of the faithful even more intense.

The procession and traditions

After the celebration, the community gathers for the traditional procession through the streets of the district. The faithful accompany the large icon of Saint George, created by the monastery of the Orthodox monks of Christ Pantocrator of Arona and inaugurated in 2025, and the reliquary arm containing the saint's relic, a sign of a devotion that has accompanied the lives of the people of Mercurago for generations. The procession is marked by the notes of the San Giorgio Musical Band, which accompanies the participants' steps until they return to the churchyard, where the final blessing concludes the liturgical moment.

Feast at the oratory

The religious dimension is complemented by conviviality. In the afternoon, the San Giorgio Oratory, on Via Dante Alighieri, hosts games and activities for families, children, and teenagers, in a joyful atmosphere that involves the entire district. The day concludes with the community dinner, an opportunity to gather at the table and strengthen the neighborhood ties that animate this small Arona community.

A village festival on Lake Maggiore

• An authentic patronal feast, far from mass tourism, deeply rooted in the district's identity.
• The evocative procession with the saint's icon and the reliquary arm.
• Musical accompaniment by the band and parish choirs.
• An afternoon of games and a community dinner at the oratory, open to all.

For those visiting the area of Arona and the lower Lake Maggiore, the Saint George Feast in Mercurago is an opportunity to discover a living and welcoming popular tradition, where faith intertwines with the history and daily life of the Piedmontese lakes.