TEREFEST — Pifferi e Tamburi Corps of the City of Santhià

TEREFEST: A summer of fifes and drums

In the heart of summer, when Carnival is but a distant memory, the Pifferi e Tamburi Corps of the City of Santhià returns to make its voice heard with TEREFEST, a folk and musical event that brings the center of Santhià, in the province of Vercelli, to life. It is the festival through which the city's most iconic group celebrates itself and its heritage outside of the carnival season.

A name that pays tribute

The name TEREFEST holds an affectionate memory: it is dedicated to Teresio Berri, an irreplaceable figure in Santhià's history, a connoisseur of traditional cuisine, and the reformer of the Pifferi e Tamburi Corps, who led the group's renewal with a new generation of young musicians starting in 1970. "Tere" for Teresio, "fest" for festival: a way to keep the memory alive of the man who passed on the passion for fifes and drums to subsequent generations.

Who are the Pifferi e Tamburi of Santhià?

With their red capes and traditional uniforms, the fifers and drummers are much more than a musical group: they are the very symbol of the city and the sonic soul of the Historical Carnival of Santhià, the oldest in Piedmont. The first written record of their presence dates back to a notice from January 30, 1833, but the pairing of a fife player and a drummer has roots that go back much further. The group is also famous for its motto, half-serious and half-joking: "The fewer we are, the more we eat," which perfectly captures the fun-loving and convivial spirit that distinguishes them.

What to expect at TEREFEST

TEREFEST focuses precisely on this spirit: live music played through the streets and squares of Santhià, gatherings of enthusiasts, and convivial moments centered around good Piedmontese food. It is an opportunity to hear the live sound of the fife and drum that serves as the soundtrack to the Carnival, but in a summer setting that is relaxed and open to everyone.

• Performances and marches by the Pifferi e Tamburi Corps through the city center
• Convivial and gastronomic moments in the Santhià tradition
• A popular, small-town festival atmosphere, accessible to families and curious visitors
• A tribute to musical tradition and the memory of Teresio Berri

An appointment to discover Santhià

Attending TEREFEST means discovering Santhià in a different light than the famous Carnival: a community that, even in summer, chooses to gather around its own musical identity. For those visiting Piedmont and the province of Vercelli, it is a chance to experience an authentic festival, far from the major tourist circuits, where tradition is passed down with joy from generation to generation.