Snow Festival with Snowshoes
Snowshoeing, competitive racing, and winter festivities in Usseglio, in the Lanzo Valleys
About Snow Festival
A winter festival in the heart of the Lanzo Valleys
When snow blankets the plateau of Usseglio, a small town in the Viù Valley within the Metropolitan City of Turin, the Snow Festival with Snowshoes comes to life—the most beloved winter gathering in the Lanzo Valleys. Organized by the Pro Loco Usseglio, the event transforms the alpine village, nestled at an altitude of over 1,200 meters, into a grand winter wonderland for an entire weekend of snowshoeing, sports, tradition, and warm hospitality.
Sports and nature in the Piedmont mountains
The heart of the event is the snowshoe walk, a trek that winds along a scenic loop through the woods and snowy plateaus surrounding Usseglio. Sunday's program offers two formats for every type of participant: the non-competitive walk, open to everyone without the need for a medical certificate, and the competitive race of approximately 6 km, reserved for those with sports affiliation or a daily membership card. This format allows both families and seasoned athletes to experience the winter mountains at their own pace.
Carnival, colors, and Franco-Provençal tradition
The Snow Festival is about more than just sports: Saturday is primarily dedicated to children and families, featuring the Children's Carnival at the Casa del Fondo, entertainment, and hot chocolate provided by the Pro Loco. As night falls, the fluorescent Color Run kicks off—a 1.5 km walk filled with glowing gadgets and music—followed by an evening of traditional Franco-Provençal dances, an expression of the alpine culture that still defines Usseglio and the upper Lanzo Valleys today. The day concludes with the evocative propitiatory bonfire, a symbolic ritual around the fire accompanied by mulled wine.
An event for the entire valley
Now in its twentieth year and under the patronage of the Metropolitan City of Turin, the Snow Festival with Snowshoes has become a symbol of the Viù Valley and an opportunity to discover Usseglio, its mountain pastures, its alpine cheeses, and the authentic charm of the Lanzo Valleys, far from the major ski resorts. It is an event that blends outdoor sports, play, mountain gastronomy, and local identity.
- Where: Usseglio (TO), Viù Valley — Lanzo Valleys, Piedmont
- When: A weekend in February
- For whom: Families, snowshoers, sports enthusiasts, mountain lovers
- Organization: Pro Loco Usseglio
Snow Festival — edition 2026
Sabato 7 febbraio 2026
- 15:30 — Carnevale dei più piccoli alla Casa del Fondo, con giochi curati da CircoWow e cioccolata calda offerta dalla Pro Loco
- 17:30 — "Usoei Children and Family Color Run", passeggiata fluorescente di circa 1,5 km con animazione e musica
- Sera — Serata danzante con musica e balli tipici francoprovenzali nel salone polivalente di via Roma 7
- 23:00 — Falò propiziatorio, rito simbolico attorno al fuoco con vin brulè
Domenica 8 febbraio 2026
- 10:30 — Partenza della camminata con le ciaspole e della gara competitiva (circa 6 km) dalla Casa del Fondo
- 12:00 — Premiazione della gara agonistica
- 12:30 — Pranzo convenzionato della Pro Loco (posti esauriti)
- 15:00 — Premiazione della camminata non competitiva ed estrazione della lotteria con ricchi premi
Programme Snow Festival 2026
Sabato 7 febbraio 2026 — Casa del Fondo e salone polivalente
- 15:30 — Carnevale dei più piccoli: giochi in maschera curati da CircoWow, intrattenimento e cioccolata calda offerta dalla Pro Loco
- 17:30 — Usoei Children and Family Color Run: passeggiata al crepuscolo di circa 1,5 km con gadget fluorescenti, animazione e musica, adatta a tutti
- 21:00 — Serata danzante con musica e balli tipici francoprovenzali nel salone polivalente (via Roma 7)
- 23:00 — Falò propiziatorio: rito simbolico in cui si bruciano i propri biglietti con ciò che si desidera lasciar andare, accompagnato dal vin brulè
Domenica 8 febbraio 2026 — Ciaspolata e gara
- 10:30 — Partenza dalla Casa del Fondo della ciaspolata non competitiva e della gara agonistica su un anello di circa 6 km con punti ristoro
- 12:00 — Premiazione della gara competitiva
- 12:30 — Pranzo convenzionato della Pro Loco (posti esauriti)
- 15:00 — Grande premiazione della camminata e estrazione della lotteria
Iscrizioni online su eventiusseglio.it oppure sul posto. Limite di 1.000 partecipanti; pacco gara garantito ai primi 600 iscritti.
Highlights Snow Festival 2026
Prices Snow Festival 2026
Practical information — Snow Festival
How to get there
Usseglio can be reached by car from Turin by traveling up the Viù Valley (approx. 60 km, take the Lanzo Torinese exit and follow the SP32/SP33). In the past, a shuttle bus from Turin has been provided during the festival days: please check availability on the official website.
Registration and costs
Register online at eventiusseglio.it or on-site (with a surcharge). Base fee is €12 (walk or race), €5 for children, people with disabilities, and pets; snowshoe rental is €6. For the competitive race, a sports affiliation or a daily CSAin card (€2) and a medical certificate are required. Participation is limited to 1,000 people.
Tips
Bring technical winter mountain clothing, waterproof boots, and a change of clothes. Snowshoes can be rented on-site. Book the Pro Loco's set-menu lunch in advance, as it often sells out.
Contacts
Pro Loco Usseglio — tel. +39 379 1718210, email [email protected], website festasullaneve.it
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Where does it take place — Snow Festival
Casa del Fondo
Casa del Fondo, Frazione Villaretto, 10070 Usseglio