San Genesio Festival – Patronal Feast of Fabbrico

The patron saint's feast in the heart of the Emilia-Romagna lowlands

The San Genesio Festival is the patronal feast of Fabbrico, a small municipality in the province of Reggio Emilia nestled in the plains of the Bassa Reggiana, in Emilia-Romagna. San Genesio is the town's patron saint, and his feast day falls on August 25th: around this date, the Fabbrico community gathers every year for a two-day event that combines religious, convivial, and popular dimensions, following a tradition that is renewed with each edition.

A two-day event of taste, music, and socialising

The heart of the festival takes place along Via Roma, the town's main street, and in Piazza Vittorio Veneto. The first evening is dedicated to the renowned Caplàs dinner, the traditional Emilian cappelletti served outdoors at a long table stretching through the centre: a menu that includes an aperitif, appetizer, caplàs, and classic zuppa inglese, with a vegetarian option, prepared by local volunteers. Afterwards, the square comes alive with the evening concert and a bar area, in a festive atmosphere that attracts residents and visitors from neighbouring towns.

Devotion and the Oratory of San Genesio

The second day has a more solemn and devotional character. On the morning of August 25th, the Holy Mass dedicated to the Patron Saint is celebrated, while in the late afternoon, the festivities move to the Oratory of San Genesio, a small 18th-century sacred building located within the old castle moat, along Via San Genesio. Here, the blessing of the polychrome wooden statue of the Saint takes place, followed by music and dancing with local musicians and a convivial aperitif. The oratory, now open only occasionally, houses a false altar painted with floral garlands, a stucco altarpiece, and an 18th-century wooden tabernacle: the Mass on August 25th is one of the few occasions of the year to visit it.

A community celebration

The San Genesio Festival is organised thanks to the collaboration of local associations: Pro Loco Fabbrico, the Gruppo Volontari per Fabbrico, ANSPI, and Pallavolo Fabbrico. It is an example of the vibrant network of volunteers that animates festivals in the province of Reggio Emilia, where the patronal feast remains an event of identity, capable of bringing together religious tradition, typical gastronomy, and village life.

Why attend

• The outdoor Caplàs dinner, a symbolic dish of Emilian cuisine, along Via Roma;
• The evening concert in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, with a bar area;
• The Holy Mass and the blessing of the statue of San Genesio;
• A visit to the 18th-century Oratory of San Genesio, exceptionally open;
• The authentic atmosphere of a village festival in the Bassa Reggiana.