Scarecrow Festival in the Villages of Presolana

A festival that tells the story of the countryside

In the Villages of Presolana — Rovetta, Onore, and Songavazzo, in the province of Bergamo — the Scarecrow Festival transforms the villages into a grand rural tale for three days. The idea is simple and poetic: to focus on scarecrows, a symbol of the countryside, to promote the natural and cultural riches of the area, local products, and the stories of the farmers who still cultivate these lands at the foot of the mountain.

Red-beaked corn takes centre stage

The true king of the festival is Red-beaked Corn, an ancient variety of corn typical of the area. Throughout the event, participating restaurateurs and bars offer dishes and specialties based on this corn, from dinners to aperitifs. There's also corn sowing in the square in Rovetta, with polenta tasting, a gesture that symbolically links the festival to the cycle of the earth.

Competitions, workshops, and awards

The programme is itinerant and involves Pro Loco, associations, libraries, and shopkeepers from the three villages. There are competitions for the most original scarecrow, open to individuals and associations, and for the best shop window display. Workshops are held on farms, such as the one at "Lo Strano branco" in Onore. The final award ceremony for the scarecrows takes place on Sunday in Songavazzo.

Three villages, one soul

The Scarecrow Festival is an example of how three small villages in the Val Seriana can network around their roots. For those who want to discover the Bergamo mountains away from the crowds, amidst peasant traditions and the landscapes of Presolana, it is an authentic and original event.