Santa Croce Fair

A village festival in the heart of lower Piedmont

The Santa Croce Fair is the most anticipated event of the year in Carrosio, a tiny municipality in the Province of Alessandria nestled in the Scrivia Valley, at the gates of the Capanne di Marcarolo Park. It is the village's patronal feast, linked to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which falls on September 14th: an event that for nearly twenty years has drawn inhabitants from neighboring valleys, former residents returning for the occasion, and curious passersby traveling the roads of the Gavi area.

What to expect

The day begins in the morning with the arrival of market stalls and stands featuring local products, which fill the square and the village streets. With hobbyists, artisan exhibitors, and local producers, the fair maintains the authentic flavor of traditional Piedmontese festivals. For children, there is a funfair, while live music accompanies the various stages of the day.

• Stalls and stands with local products and crafts from the morning
• The famous Carrosio fritters, the fair's signature treat, from the afternoon
• Lunch and dinner organized by the Pro Loco with traditional dishes
• Funfair and entertainment for families
• Fire show and grand fireworks finale in the evening

Traditional flavors

The gastronomic heart of the festival is managed by the Pro Loco Carrosio, which organizes lunch and dinner featuring typical dishes from lower Piedmont. The Carrosio fritters, prepared from early afternoon, have become a true institution over the years: a simple and fragrant sweet that many travel to the village specifically to enjoy.

Art and local memory

In recent years, the fair has been enriched with a cultural dimension, featuring an exhibition dedicated to the painter Emilio Debrevi (1915-1990) set up at the municipal building: a tribute to an artist with a strong bond to the Novese territory, whose works are displayed during the festival days.

The grand finale

The most anticipated moment arrives at nightfall: around 10:00 PM, the sky of Carrosio lights up with a fireworks display, often preceded by fire performers. It is the best way to close a day that weaves together patronal devotion, popular tradition, and conviviality in one of the smallest and most welcoming villages in the Province of Alessandria, Piedmont.