Threshing and Plowing Festival
Vintage tractors, threshing, and plowing in the heart of the Bientina countryside
About Threshing Festival
A festival that brings the farming world back to life
In the Contrada Puntone district of Bientina (Province of Pisa, Tuscany), the Threshing and Plowing Festival has been the go-to event for celebrating rural heritage and traditional crafts for over twenty-five years. Organized by the G.A.T.A.E. association (Gruppo Amatori Trattori Agricoli ed Epoca), active since the late nineties, the event draws agricultural machinery enthusiasts, families, and curious visitors from across the Valdera region and the Padule di Fucecchio area.
Vintage tractors, threshing, and plowing
The heart of the festival lies in its historic agricultural machinery: threshers, hot-bulb tractors, and vehicles from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s are brought back to life and showcased to the public. Visitors can witness live grain threshing using antique belt-driven machines, enjoy the evocative parade of vintage and modern tractors through the streets of Bientina, and, on Sunday afternoon, watch plowing demonstrations in the fields using traditional tools. It is a precious opportunity for new generations to discover how the land was worked before modern mechanization.
Rural conviviality
Alongside the demonstrations, the social aspect—the true glue of the community—is never missing: the Saturday night rustic dinner and the Sunday lunch bring participants and visitors together over traditional Tuscan dishes. It is a moment when the elderly pass on knowledge, anecdotes, and farming skills to the youth in an authentic, family-friendly atmosphere.
Bientina and its territory
Bientina, overlooking an ancient lake that has since been reclaimed and located just a few kilometers from the Padule di Fucecchio, retains a strong rural identity. The Threshing and Plowing Festival is its most sincere expression: not a commercial fair, but a re-enactment created by those who knew and still care for these machines. Admission is free, and the festival is part of the rich Estate Bientinese calendar, the summer series that enlivens the municipality from May to September with dozens of events.
- Exhibition of vintage tractors and agricultural tools
- Live grain threshing demonstration
- Parade of historic and modern tractors through the town streets
- Plowing demonstration with vintage machinery
- Rustic dinner and traditional farm-style lunch
Threshing Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Threshing and Plowing Festival will be held on Saturday, August 22, and Sunday, August 23, 2026, in Contrada Puntone, Bientina (PI), as part of the 2026 Estate Bientinese municipal calendar. As per tradition, the G.A.T.A.E. association's event will feature an exhibition of vintage tractors and agricultural tools, grain threshing with antique machines, a tractor parade through the town, and plowing demonstrations, all accompanied by convivial dining moments.
Programme Threshing Festival 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 edition, including daily schedules, will be announced by the G.A.T.A.E. association in the weeks preceding the festival. Based on recent editions, the typical structure includes:
Saturday, August 22
- Afternoon — Exhibition of vintage tractors and agricultural tools
- Late afternoon — Grain threshing demonstration with antique machines
- Evening — Rustic dinner (reservation required)
Sunday, August 23
- Morning — Parade of vintage and modern tractors through the streets of Bientina
- Midday — Convivial lunch
- Afternoon — Plowing demonstration in the fields with vintage vehicles
The times indicated follow the established schedule of recent editions and will be confirmed by the official 2026 program.
Highlights Threshing Festival 2026
Prices Threshing Festival 2026
Practical information — Threshing Festival
How to get there
The festival takes place in Contrada Puntone, Via del Puntone 8, in Bientina (PI). By car, it is easily reached via the SS439 or the FI-PI-LI highway (exit Pontedera or Altopascio). The nearest train station is Pontedera-Casciana Terme, about 12 km away.
Admission and bookings
Admission to the event is free. Reservations are recommended for the dinner and lunch: call +39 340 6195108 or +39 333 6410441. For information, contact the Municipality of Bientina at +39 0587 758456.
Tips
Wear comfortable shoes for the fields and bring a hat: the Tuscan sun can be intense in August. Ideal for families and agricultural machinery enthusiasts.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Threshing Festival
Contrada Puntone
Via del Puntone 8, Contrada Puntone, 56031 Bientina