Sant'Andrea Fair
The patronal feast of Castelnovo di Sotto featuring market, food, and tradition
About Sant'Andrea Fair
The Patron Saint's Feast in the Bassa Reggiana
The Sant'Andrea Fair is the most anticipated event of autumn in Castelnovo di Sotto, a municipality in the Bassa plain in the Province of Reggio Emilia, in Emilia-Romagna. The fair coincides with the feast of the town's patron saint, Saint Andrew the Apostle, celebrated on November 30th: when the date falls on a weekday, the celebrations are concentrated on the closest weekend. It is an ancient tradition, linked to a village whose origins some scholars trace back to the 10th century, and which still attracts visitors from all over the province today.
A Historic Center in Celebration
During the fair, the heart of the town is transformed: Via Gramsci becomes the hub of shopping with the street market, open shops, and stalls, while Viale Marconi and Piazza IV Novembre host the merchandise stands. Alongside the traditional market, there are high-quality markets such as Terra dei Gonzaga and Mercanti di Parma, featuring local typical products, crafts, and food and wine.
Taste, Families, and Entertainment
The Sant'Andrea Fair is above all a popular festival for all ages. At the so-called Rotonda del gusto e delle associazioni (Roundabout of taste and associations), you can enjoy specialties of Emilian cuisine: fried dumplings (gnocco fritto), wood-fired cooked pork cracklings, polenta, fried pumpkin, and zero-kilometer agricultural products, with local volunteer and sports associations taking center stage. For the little ones, there are wooden games, skill challenges, creative workshops, and an area dedicated to street art, while the funfair completes the festive atmosphere.
More Than Just a Fair
In recent years, the event has combined the market and gastronomy with moments of entertainment and reflection: sports demonstrations, themed exhibitions, and cultural initiatives hosted in the town center spaces. The Sant'Andrea Fair thus confirms itself as an event capable of bringing together tradition, taste, entertainment, and community, and it is the way Castelnovo di Sotto renews its bond with its patron saint and its history every year.
Sant'Andrea Fair — edition 2026
The Sant'Andrea Fair 2026 takes place in Castelnovo di Sotto (Reggio Emilia) from Friday, November 27th to Monday, November 30th, 2026, according to the official calendar of public area fairs of the Emilia-Romagna Region. The registered hours are: Friday 27th from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday 30th (patron's day) from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
The event involves Via Gramsci, Viale Marconi, and Piazza IV Novembre, with merchandise stalls (food, clothing, footwear, leather goods, housewares) and quality local markets.
The detailed program of collateral initiatives (food stands, children's activities, shows, and exhibitions) is usually announced by the Municipality and associations in the weeks preceding the fair.
Programme Sant'Andrea Fair 2026
The 2026 dates are confirmed by the regional calendar of public area fairs: the Sant'Andrea Fair is held from Friday, November 27th to Monday, November 30th, 2026.
Market Hours
- Friday, November 27th: 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
- Saturday, November 28th: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
- Sunday, November 29th: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
- Monday, November 30th (Sant'Andrea): 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Usual Fair Structure
- Via Gramsci: street market, open shops, and high-quality markets (Terra dei Gonzaga, Mercanti di Parma).
- Rotonda del gusto e delle associazioni: fried dumplings (gnocco fritto), wood-fired cooked pork cracklings, polenta, fried pumpkin, and zero-kilometer agricultural products.
- Family areas: wooden games, creative workshops, street art area, and funfair.
The detailed program for the 2026 edition, with specific event times, shows, and exhibitions, will be published by the Municipality of Castelnovo di Sotto and the organizing associations in the weeks leading up to the fair.
Highlights Sant'Andrea Fair 2026
- Patronal feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle (November 30th)
- Market and quality stalls in the historic center
- Emilian specialties: gnocco fritto, pork cracklings, polenta
- Funfair and activities for children
Prices Sant'Andrea Fair 2026
Practical information — Sant'Andrea Fair
When
Late November, coinciding with the patronal feast of Saint Andrew (November 30th). In 2026, the fair is scheduled from Friday, November 27th to Monday, November 30th.
Where
Historic center of Castelnovo di Sotto (RE): Via Gramsci, Viale Marconi, Piazza IV Novembre, Piazza Prampolini.
How to get there
By car: Castelnovo di Sotto can be reached from the SS63 and the provincial roads of the Bassa reggiana, about 20 minutes from Reggio Emilia and the A1 motorway exit. By train: Reggio Emilia station, then bus connections to the town.
Admission
Free and open access to the fair and market. Funfair attractions and food tastings are subject to a fee.
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Where does it take place — Sant'Andrea Fair
Centro storico (Via Gramsci, Viale Marconi, Piazza IV Novembre, Piazza Prampolini)
Via Gramsci, 42024 Castelnovo di Sotto