Sant'Anna Fair

A patronal fair in the heart of the Lower Sarca valley

The Sant'Anna Fair is the most deeply rooted traditional event in Arco, a town in the Lower Sarca valley in the province of Trento, located in the heart of Garda Trentino in the Trentino-Alto Adige region. Every year on July 26th, the day dedicated to Saint Anne, the community's co-patron saint, the historic center transforms into a large open-air market and a festive hub that draws thousands of visitors from across the region.

The market: over two hundred stalls

From the early hours of the morning, around 8:00 AM, the streets and squares of the center fill with stalls: there are usually around two hundred vendors. The market stretches from Piazzale Segantini to the Tre Novembre, Marchetti, and Canoniche squares, and from the Foro Boario to Via Galas, reaching as far as Piazzale Schotten. You can find a bit of everything, from clothing to handicrafts, and from local products to gastronomic specialties. The stalls at Piazzale Segantini, Foro Boario, and Via Galas close in the late afternoon, while activity in the Tre Novembre, Marchetti, and Canoniche squares continues late into the evening.

The patronal feast and festival

As evening falls, the fair gives way to the more intimate and communal side of the celebration. Around 8:00 PM, mass is celebrated: in recent years, due to restoration work on the church of Sant'Anna, the service has been held in the nearby Collegiate Church. Immediately after, around 8:45 PM, the traditional free distribution of watermelon, bread, cheese, wine, and drinks begins in Piazzale Segantini, one of the most beloved and iconic moments of the evening.

Music and dancing in the square

The celebration is enlivened by live music from the Pras Band and dance performances by local schools, including the Academy of Dance, the Controvento Team, and Danza Attiva. The evening thus turns into a moment of togetherness with dancing and entertainment under the stars, in an authentic village festival atmosphere.

The return to the square

After several editions where, for health and organizational reasons, the evening part of the festival was moved to the Oratorio San Gabriele at the Pomerio, the event has returned to its natural home, Piazzale Segantini, next to the church. This return, managed by the Sant'Anna Committee with the support of the municipal administration, has restored to the Arco community an event felt as a fundamental part of its identity.

An event for the entire Garda Trentino

The Sant'Anna Fair is now a classic of the summer in the Municipality of Arco and the entire Garda Trentino area: an opportunity for residents and tourists to experience the historic center on a special day, amidst shopping at the stalls, religious tradition, and popular conviviality.