Democratic Festival of Sant'Ilario d'Enza

A Great Popular Festival in the Heart of Emilia

The Democratic Festival of Sant'Ilario d'Enza is one of the most deeply rooted summer events in the Municipality of Sant'Ilario d'Enza, in the province of Reggio Emilia, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. Heir to the long tradition of the 'feste dell'Unità' that have marked the social and political history of the Bassa reggiana, the festival takes place every year in July in the green setting of Parco San Rocco, transforming it for ten days into a large open-air meeting space.

Politics, Debates, and Culture

The heart of the event consists of political debates and cultural meetings, which every evening attract administrators, parliamentarians, and party leaders at national and regional levels. In recent editions, the festival has hosted prominent figures such as the national secretary of the Democratic Party Elly Schlein, the president of the Emilia-Romagna Region Michele De Pascale, and the national president of the PD Stefano Bonaccini, as well as book presentations and discussions on current issues.

Music, Shows, and Entertainment

Alongside politics, the festival offers a rich program of entertainment: live concerts, arena shows, dance evenings, areas dedicated to younger audiences, and comedy moments. The atmosphere is convivial and family-friendly, typical of Emilian village festivals, with an audience of all ages filling the park's avenues until late at night.

Emilian Gastronomy Takes Centre Stage

The food stands are one of the event's strong points: traditional Reggiano cuisine, barbecue, seafood restaurant, the unmissable fried gnocco, bars, ice cream parlour, and a dance floor. Making all this possible is the work of hundreds of volunteers who alternate daily at the stoves and in the festival's services, in a great collective effort that is part of the event's very identity.

An Event for the Territory

The Democratic Festival represents a moment of sociality, participation, and public debate for Sant'Ilario d'Enza and the entire province of Reggio Emilia. The growing importance of the event has, in some editions, made it the setting for the regional festival of the Democratic Party of Emilia-Romagna, confirming Sant'Ilario's role as one of the hubs of the region's political and cultural summer.