San Giusto Festival

The patronal feast of Pocapaglia

The San Giusto Festival is the patronal feast of Pocapaglia, a hillside village in the Roero area of the Cuneo province, in Piedmont. Dedicated to the patron saint, it is the most important and anticipated event of the local summer: for seven days in mid-to-late August, the entire community gathers in the town squares to celebrate tradition, faith, and friendship together. The event is organized with dedication by the Pro Loco of Pocapaglia, which creates a packed calendar of activities for all ages every year.

A week of events

The heart of the festival is conviviality: every evening, the town comes alive with large community dinners in areas set up by the Pro Loco, ranging from the famous Friendship Dinner to evenings featuring meat and fish, from spit-roasted pork (porchetta) to wood-fired pizza. The long tables are accompanied by dance nights, live music, DJ sets, and performances ranging from brilliant theater in the Piedmontese dialect to Latin-American dance nights.

• Religious celebrations in honor of San Giusto, with Holy Mass and moments of devotion at the parish church
• Palio dei Borghi, a playful challenge between the town's districts, the true identity-defining event of the festival
• Community dinners every evening, featuring traditional Roero and Piedmontese menus
• Music and dance: ballroom orchestras, live bands, DJ sets, and themed evenings
• Gatherings of vintage cars and motorcycles, non-competitive cycling events, and moments dedicated to local youth groups

Tradition, community, and solidarity

Beyond the festivities, the San Giusto patronal feast maintains a strong spirit of community and solidarity: in past editions, the Pro Loco has complemented the celebrations with charity stalls and fundraising initiatives to support local causes. It is this blend of faith, celebration, and solidarity that makes the event so deeply rooted in the identity of Pocapaglia.

Discovering the Roero

Visiting Pocapaglia during the San Giusto Festival is also an opportunity to discover the Roero, a land of hills, vineyards, forests, and famous rocky cliffs, just a few kilometers from Bra and Alba. Between a dinner and a show, visitors can immerse themselves in the flavors and landscapes of one of Piedmont's most authentic territories, far from mass tourism and close to the most genuine traditions.