Snow Festival (without snow)

A tradition that lives on without snow

In Clavais, a hamlet of Ovaro in the heart of Carnia, there is a festival that plays with its own name: the Snow Festival (without snow). The event, held at the end of March, reinterprets a mountain tradition linked to winter in a spring key, bringing participants to the slope of the legendary Monte Zoncolan.

The ôlgia, the sledge of Carnia

The protagonist of the day is the ôlgia, the large wooden sledge that the farmers of the Carnic valleys once used to transport hay, wood, and agricultural products down the steep slopes, before the arrival of modern vehicles. The non-competitive race can be tackled on foot or with the ôlgia itself, in a descent that recreates the ancient mountain work on two routes: one for experts (6.5 km, 450 meters of elevation gain) and one for amateurs (4 km, 300 meters of elevation gain).

After the effort, the convivial moment: the lunch at Villa Ines and the awards ceremony in the afternoon. Organized by the Pro Loco and local committees, the event is dedicated to preserving alpine heritage and supporting small mountain communities.

Carnia to experience

The Snow Festival is an invitation to discover the most authentic Carnia: its slopes, its traditions, and its people. An opportunity to walk through the woods of Zoncolan and rediscover an ancient gesture that tells centuries of mountain life.