San Nicola Patronal Feast

A festival spanning the centuries

The San Nicola Patronal Feast is the most anticipated event of the year for Vigone, a town in the Pinerolo plains of the Province of Turin, in Piedmont. Its roots date back to the 17th century: devotion to San Nicola da Tolentino is linked to the arrival of the Augustinian friars, who founded their convent in 1460, and especially to the town's liberation from the terrible plague of 1630. As a vow of gratitude, the community chose San Nicola as its patron saint in 1644, making the celebration mandatory.

When it takes place

The festival falls every year on the second Sunday of September and spans five days, from Friday to Tuesday, with a program that combines religious moments and civic festivities in the town's historic center.

Religious tradition

The spiritual heart of the event is the solemn Holy Mass in honor of the patron saint, followed by a procession that winds through the streets of the town, accompanied by local authorities and the historic La Vigoneisa marching band. It is the moment when the community renews its bond with its history and the centuries-old vow.

Popular festival and entertainment

Alongside the religious aspect, the festival offers a rich calendar of entertainment for all ages:

• Dinners and food stalls organized by the Pro Loco and local merchants
• Concerts and ballroom dancing evenings in the square, featuring orchestras and tribute bands
• Street performances, children's entertainment, street artists, and majorettes
• Markets and a fair along Via Umberto I
• The San Nicola non-competitive fun run, now in its twentieth year
• The large funfair and, as a grand finale, the fireworks display

A heritage of the Vigone community

The San Nicola Feast is not just an entertainment event: it represents a religious, social, economic, and cultural pillar for Vigone. It is the occasion when the town gathers, celebrates its traditions, and welcomes visitors from neighboring towns in the Pinerolo plains, in a spirit of conviviality that has been renewed for nearly four centuries.