San Rocco Fair

A Patronal Feast in the Mountains of Frignano

The San Rocco Fair is the patronal feast of Polinago, a mountain municipality in the province of Modena located at about 810 meters above sea level in the picturesque Val Rossenna, one of the most characteristic valleys of the Modenese Apennines in Emilia-Romagna. Every year, on August 16th, the day dedicated to Saint Rocco, the small village transforms into a major meeting point for the inhabitants of the area and for the numerous summer visitors who choose the Apennines as their holiday destination.

The Market and Stalls

The heart of the event is the large traveling market that invades the streets and squares of the historic center. Along the stalls, you can find handicrafts, clothing, household items, toys, agricultural equipment, and especially the typical products of the Apennines: chestnuts, mushrooms, mountain cheeses, ricotta, honey, Parmigiano Reggiano, and traditional sweets like borlenghi and ciacci. The fair thus maintains the spirit of ancient village agricultural fairs, a moment of exchange and meeting for the entire valley community.

"Polinago in festa": Ferragosto Week

The San Rocco Fair is the highlight of the "Polinago in festa" event series, the week of summer celebrations that enlivens the town around Ferragosto. During this period, the village offers various events for families and visitors, in a convivial atmosphere typical of Emilian mountain festivals, where devotion to the patron saint intertwines with gastronomy, music, and social life.

Popular Devotion to Saint Rocco

Saint Rocco, traditionally invoked against diseases and epidemics, is one of the most beloved figures in Apennine popular devotion. His feast day, celebrated on August 16th, retains its value as an identity-defining event in Polinago, capable of drawing back to the village those who have emigrated elsewhere and wish to reconnect with their roots and community.

A Territory to Discover

Visiting the fair is the ideal opportunity to discover the territory of the Municipality of Polinago and Val Rossenna: the castles of Gombola and Brandola, the church of Santa Maria Assunta, the chestnut and oak woods, and the mysterious Ponte Ercole, a striking rock arch immersed in nature. A day of tradition, Apennine landscapes, and authentic flavors of Emilia-Romagna.