Saint Lawrence the Martyr Fair

The Patron Saint's Festival of Bore

The Saint Lawrence the Martyr Fair is the most important festival in the calendar of Bore, a small municipality of just over six hundred inhabitants nestled at over 800 meters above sea level in the upper part of the Ceno Valley, in the Parma Apennines, on the border with the province of Piacenza. Every year, around August 10th — the day the Church commemorates the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence the Deacon — the village celebrates its patron saint with a day that blends moments of faith, traditional markets, and popular celebration.

An Ancient Bond with Saint Lawrence

The devotion to Saint Lawrence in Bore dates back centuries: the parish church, the Church of Saint Lawrence the Martyr, rebuilt in neoclassical style at the beginning of the 20th century, is dedicated to him and has become the parish seat in the heart of the village. On the feast day, the community gathers for the solemn Holy Mass in honor of the patron saint, a central and defining moment for the people of Bore scattered between the main town and the hamlets of Metti, Pozzolo, Orsi, and Castiglione dei Turchi.

The Fair and Market

Alongside the religious dimension, the day comes alive with the traditional fair, which has always accompanied the patronal celebrations. Stalls line the streets of the center, particularly near Via Roma, offering typical Apennine products, local crafts, sweets, and goods of all kinds. It is an opportunity for those living in the scattered hamlets of the valley to meet, shop, and spend a festive day together.

Flavors of the Parma Apennines

Bore's gastronomic tradition is the genuine one of the Parma mountains: fresh pasta dishes, mushrooms, and chestnuts — the latter are the queens of the woods surrounding the village and the stars of autumn festivals — often accompany the community's convivial moments. The Saint Lawrence festival is also an opportunity to rediscover the simple and authentic flavors of this Apennine region of Emilia-Romagna.

A Village to Discover in Summer

Bore, in the province of Parma, is a popular destination for its summer coolness and for excursions in the chestnut groves and along the trails of the upper Ceno Valley. The Saint Lawrence Fair, in the heart of summer, represents the moment when the village best showcases its identity: a small mountain village that proudly preserves its traditions and devotion to the patron saint.