San Sebastiano Festival

The winter patronal feast of Cavalese

In the heart of the Val di Fiemme winter, the town of Cavalese, in the province of Trento (Trentino-Alto Adige), celebrates the San Sebastiano Festival, one of the most cherished traditions in the local calendar. The liturgical feast of the saint falls on January 20th, but the festival is traditionally held on the Sunday closest to that date, bringing the entire community together for a weekend of free-entry events.

Historical roots: San Sebastiano against the plague

The devotion of Cavalese to San Sebastiano dates back to the 15th century. As early as 1464, the Regola di Cavalese erected a chapel dedicated to the saint as a gesture of gratitude for saving the population from a severe plague epidemic that had struck the valley. San Sebastiano, a 3rd-century Roman martyr, is traditionally invoked as a protector against pestilence. That chapel, expanded and later rebuilt around 1870, gave rise to the small Church of San Sebastiano in the historic center, a testament to the ancient bond between the town and its protector.

The festival program

The festival weekend kicks off on Saturday evening with a musical event of great tradition: the "Cantar a San Bastiàn" concert by the Coro Coronelle of Cavalese, held at 9:00 PM in the evocative Church of San Vigilio, a 17th-century jewel adorned with frescoes, located next to the Franciscan convent.

Sunday is dedicated to the main events of the feast:

• Solemn Holy Mass at 10:30 AM in the Church of San Vigilio;
• followed by a social gathering in Piazza Dante, where the "Leone Bosin" Alpini Group offers grostoli, mulled wine, and hot tea to all participants;
• in the afternoon, at 4:00 PM, the traditional San Sebastiano Dance at the PalaFiemme, featuring the Spritz Band.

A community celebration

The festival is organized by the ADVSP Blood Donors of Cavalese, who use this occasion to renew the bond between volunteer work and tradition: the day is often accompanied by the honoring of donors and a parade of standard-bearers. Around them, the town's associations come together, from the Alpini to the Coro Coronelle, in a blend of generations that makes the San Sebastiano Festival a defining moment for Cavalese and the entire Val di Fiemme.

Cavalese and the Val di Fiemme in winter

As the historic capital of the valley and seat of the Magnifica Comunità di Fiemme, Cavalese is a renowned winter tourist destination at the foot of the Alpe Cermis. The San Sebastiano Festival offers visitors to the valley the chance to discover an authentic tradition, far from the ski slopes but within the warmth of the town square and the historic churches.