Saint Thomas Fair

A village fair in the Bolognese mountains

The Saint Thomas Fair is one of the most cherished events in Camugnano, a municipality in the metropolitan city of Bologna nestled in the upper Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, between Lake Suviana and the Brasimone basin. Listed in the official calendar of public area fairs of the Emilia-Romagna Region, the fair brings a market with all kinds of goods to the square and keeps alive a tradition that links the town to its patron saint, Saint Thomas the Apostle, celebrated on July 3rd.

The link with Saint Thomas the Apostle

Like many patronal feasts in the Apennines, Camugnano's feast originated from popular devotion to the saint who is the community's patron. Over time, a day of celebration has been built around the figure of Saint Thomas, combining the religious dimension with a more convivial and commercial one: the fair, in fact, is when the street vendors' stalls arrive in town and the square becomes a meeting place for the inhabitants of the hamlets and scattered hamlets of the Camugnano territory.

The market and the square

The heart of the event is Piazza Kennedy, Camugnano's central square where the market and village events traditionally take place. For one day, the square fills with stalls offering all kinds of goods—clothing, crafts, household items, sweets—and food stalls showcasing the specialties of the Bolognese mountains. It's the typical atmosphere of village fairs: slow, authentic, made for strolling among the stalls and chatting in the shade.

Camugnano and its territory

Visiting the Saint Thomas Fair is also an opportunity to discover a little-known corner of the province of Bologna. Camugnano is a land of lakes and forests: Lake Suviana and Lake Brasimone, now the heart of the Regional Park, make it a popular destination for those seeking nature, trails, and excursions. The Camugnano mountains also preserve authentic flavors, from black truffles to forest products, which during the summer animate numerous local festivals and fairs.

Why go

• Experience the genuine atmosphere of a patronal fair in the Bolognese Apennines
• Stroll among the stalls in Piazza Kennedy in search of local products and crafts
• Discover Camugnano, Lake Suviana, and the Brasimone basin
• Savor the gastronomic tradition of the Bolognese mountains