Saint Mark's Festival
The spring festival in the village of Oira, Crevoladossola, blending faith, alpine heritage, and Ossola traditions.
About Saint Mark's Festival in Oira
A spring festival in the heart of the Ossola Valley
The Saint Mark's Festival is a traditional event held in the village of Oira, in the municipality of Crevoladossola, located in the upper Val d'Ossola in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola province (Piedmont). Dedicated to Saint Mark the Evangelist, the festival takes place at the end of April and symbolically marks the arrival of spring. The liturgical celebration, which includes the blessing of the fields, bread, and wine, is a propitiatory rite for the harvest, deeply rooted in the local farming and mountain culture.
Alpe Cravariola: the central theme
The 2026 edition focused on Alpe Cravariola, a historic alpine pasture linked to the history of Ossola grazing lands. Two dedicated exhibitions, "Cravariola, the Dowry Alp: Where It All Begins" and "Cravariola: Stories of Men, Herdsmen, and Cheesemakers," created in collaboration with the Sentieri degli Spalloni Association, recounted the history of the alpine pasture and the valley's cheesemaking traditions. To complete the experience, a curd-making demonstration at the Latteria Turnaria showcased the ancient art of milk processing.
Art, music, and local flavors
The main day revolves around OirArte, an exhibition that brings the village streets to life with local painters, sculptors, and artisans, and a culinary trail that allows visitors to discover traditional Ossola flavors while strolling among the stone houses of the village. The festival's soundtrack is provided by local musical groups: the Musica di Oira, the Crevoladossola Music Corps, the Ossola Accordions, and the Antigo Brass Band, who accompany the day with popular and band repertoires.
Memory and Resistance
Alongside the religious and gastronomic dimensions, the festival also honors history. The theatrical performance "The Silence in the Arms of a Chestnut Tree," written and performed by Nicol Quaglia with music by Lucia Puricelli, told the true story of Luigi Fradelizio, a figure of the Ossola Resistance, in commemoration of the April 25th anniversary.
A village to discover
Visiting the Saint Mark's Festival means discovering Oira and Crevoladossola, the gateway to the upper Ossola valleys, just a few kilometers from the Swiss border. It is an opportunity to experience the authenticity of a Piedmontese alpine community, where religious traditions, craftsmanship, and alpine culture still coexist in a genuine and welcoming village festival.
Saint Mark's Festival in Oira — edition 2026
Edizione 2026 — protagonista l'Alpe Cravariola
La Festa di San Marco 2026 si è svolta a Oira di Crevoladossola venerdì 24 e sabato 25 aprile, dedicando l'edizione alla valorizzazione dell'Alpe Cravariola. Un programma che ha unito storia, tradizioni, spettacoli e gastronomia, accolto da un buon afflusso di pubblico.
Il programma
L'apertura, venerdì 24 alle ore 21:00 nella chiesa parrocchiale, è stata affidata allo spettacolo "Il silenzio tra le braccia di un castagno". Sabato 25 la giornata principale ha proposto OirArte, il percorso enogastronomico tra le vie del borgo, la celebrazione liturgica con benedizione della campagna, del pane e del vino alle ore 15:00, la dimostrazione di cagliata alle 16:00 e il concerto serale.
Programme Saint Mark's Festival in Oira 2026
Venerdì 24 aprile 2026
- Ore 21:00 — Spettacolo teatrale "Il silenzio tra le braccia di un castagno", scritto e interpretato da Nicol Quaglia, musiche di Lucia Puricelli, presso la chiesa parrocchiale di Oira
Sabato 25 aprile 2026
- Ore 10:00 — OirArte, mostra di pittori, scultori e artigiani lungo le vie del borgo
- Ore 11:00-14:30 — Percorso enogastronomico tra le vie del borgo
- Ore 15:00 — Celebrazione liturgica con benedizione della campagna, del pane e del vino
- Ore 16:00 — Dimostrazione di cagliata presso la Latteria Turnaria
- Ore 16:30 — Concerto degli Esco Bar
Per tutta la giornata: mostre "Cravariola, l'Alpe della dote: dove tutto ha inizio" e "Cravariola: storie di uomini, alpigiani e casari" (in collaborazione con l'Associazione Sentieri degli Spalloni).
Highlights Saint Mark's Festival in Oira 2026
- Le mostre dedicate all'Alpe Cravariola e alle tradizioni casearie ossolane
- La benedizione della campagna, del pane e del vino
- La dimostrazione di cagliata alla Latteria Turnaria
- Le esibizioni della Musica di Oira, del Corpo Musicale di Crevoladossola, delle Fisarmoniche Ossolane e dell'Antigo Brass Band
Prices Saint Mark's Festival in Oira 2026
Practical information — Saint Mark's Festival in Oira
Getting there
Crevoladossola is located in the upper Val d'Ossola (VB). By car: take the A26 motorway to Gravellona Toce, then follow the SS33 Simplon road towards Domodossola and Crevoladossola; the village of Oira is accessible from the town center. By train: arrive at Domodossola station (on the international Simplon line and the Domodossola-Locarno line), then take local connections to Crevoladossola.
Admission and information
The festival is free to attend. For information: Municipality of Crevoladossola, tel. +39 0324 239125, [email protected].
Tips
Comfortable clothing and footwear are recommended for walking through the village's stone-paved streets. The mountain altitude makes evenings cool even in spring: bring a jacket for evening performances held in the church.
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Where does it take place — Saint Mark's Festival in Oira
Frazione Oira