Santa Margherita Rose Festival

The Santa Margherita Rose Festival

In the hamlet of Santa Margherita, part of the municipality of Robilante in the province of Cuneo, the Rose Festival is renewed every year at the end of May, marking one of the most cherished traditions in the Vermenagna Valley. It is a genuine village celebration, organized by the Massari of the Rose Festival, which weaves together religious devotion and the typical conviviality of the Alpine communities of southern Piedmont.

The Pink Walk through the valley

The day begins with the Camminata in Rosa per la valle (Pink Walk), a charity stroll of about 6 kilometres that leads from Roccavione to the hamlet of Santa Margherita in Robilante. Organized in collaboration with the local Pro Loco associations, the walk welcomes families with children, seniors, hiking enthusiasts, and anyone wishing to spend a morning in the open air. The proceeds from registration and donations are given to charity, giving the festival a strong sense of solidarity that goes beyond simple entertainment.

The tradition of the roses

The religious heart of the festival is the Holy Mass celebrated in the afternoon, accompanied by the traditional distribution of roses—a symbolic gesture that gives the event its name and preserves its most ancient meaning. It is the moment when the community gathers around the hamlet's chapel, renewing a ritual passed down through generations in Santa Margherita.

Games, music, and conviviality

After the service, the festival comes alive with games for children and the traditional pignatte (pot-breaking games) for both kids and adults. In the late afternoon, the entertainment focuses on music and traditional tavern songs, leading up to the dinner with polenta and fricandò, dishes that showcase the mountain cuisine of the Cuneo area. In the evening, there is space for traditional dancing with I Sonadors and the unmissable lottery draw, which closes the day on a high note.

A festival in the heart of the Vermenagna Valley

The Rose Festival is much more than a simple food fair: it is the moment when the small hamlet of Santa Margherita reaffirms its identity, welcoming residents and visitors from the Vermenagna Valley and the entire province of Cuneo. Between popular faith, authentic Piedmontese flavours, and a spirit of solidarity, it represents an ideal opportunity to discover the living traditions of this corner of the Maritime Alps.