To Not Lose the Taste
The festival of flavors and pork butchery traditions in the historic center of Reggiolo
About To Not Lose the Taste
A Day Dedicated to the Flavors of the Bassa Reggiana
In Reggiolo, a small municipality in the low plains of the Province of Reggio Emilia, every early February the historic center comes alive with "To Not Lose the Taste", one of the most cherished gastronomic festivals in the area. The event, which in 2026 will reach its twenty-seventh edition, is a tribute to peasant culture and the tradition of norcineria, the ancient art of pork processing that has marked the Emilian winter for centuries.
The heart of the festival takes place between Piazza Martiri and the streets of the town center, where you'll find stalls selling local products, an arts and crafts market showcasing artisans' creations, and the town's shops open for the occasion. It's a day designed for strolling, tasting, and rediscovering the gestures and flavors of the past.
The Pork Butcher's Palio and the Crackling Competition
The most anticipated moment is the Pork Butcher's Palio, a competition that awards the best cracklings prepared by the competing butchers, accompanied by a technical demonstration of pork processing according to Emilian tradition. This challenge is surrounded by demonstrations, aromas, and a curious crowd filling the square. There's also freshly baked bread from wood-fired ovens and a captivating display of vintage tractors, telling the agricultural history of this corner of the plain.
Good Food and Village Atmosphere
Under a heated structure, you can sit and savor dishes from Emilian cuisine: braised meat with polenta, lasagna, grilled meats, fried dumplings with prosciutto, and typical Carnival sweets. Between courses, there's music, entertainment, and the joy that only a village festival can offer. "To Not Lose the Taste" is much more than a food festival; it's how Reggiolo, in Emilia-Romagna, chooses to remember its roots, passing them down year after year to those who lived them and those who discover them for the first time.
The event is organized with passion by Pro Loco Reggiolo APS, the true driving force behind the town's cultural and popular initiatives.
To Not Lose the Taste — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of "To Not Lose the Taste", the twenty-seventh, animated Piazza Martiri and the historic center of Reggiolo on Sunday, February 8. The program brought together stalls selling local products, an arts and crafts market, and the town's shops open for the occasion, in a day entirely dedicated to the flavors and traditions of the Bassa reggiana.
The heart of the festival was the tenth Pork Butcher's Palio, with a demonstration of pork processing and the crackling competition. There was also bread baked in wood-fired ovens, an exhibition of vintage tractors, and, under a heated structure, traditional dishes: braised meat with polenta, lasagna, grilled meats, fried dumplings, and Carnival sweets.
Programme To Not Lose the Taste 2026
Sunday, February 8, 2026 — Reggiolo, Piazza Martiri and historic center
- All day — Stalls with local products, arts and crafts market, and shops open for the occasion
- 10:30 AM — Inauguration of the "Landscapes" exhibition at Palazzo Sartoretti
- 10th Pork Butcher's Palio — Demonstration of pork processing and crackling competition
- Exhibition of vintage tractors and bread baked in wood-fired ovens
- Heated refreshment area — Braised meat with polenta, lasagna, grilled meats, fried dumplings, and Carnival sweets
In case of bad weather, the event was postponed to Sunday, February 15, 2026.
Highlights To Not Lose the Taste 2026
Prices To Not Lose the Taste 2026
Practical information — To Not Lose the Taste
When
The event takes place on a Sunday in February. In case of bad weather, a reserve date is set for the following Sunday.
Where
Piazza Martiri and historic center of Reggiolo (RE), in Emilia-Romagna. The Bassa reggiana area is easily accessible from the A22 Brenner motorway (Reggiolo-Rolo exit) and from the provincial roads connecting Reggio Emilia, Mantua, and Guastalla.
Information
Organized by Pro Loco Reggiolo APS. For details and program updates, you can contact the Pro Loco at +39 338 6188748.
Admission
Access to the festival and the events in the square is free; food dishes and products are available for purchase at the stands.
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 — To Not Lose the Taste
Piazza Martiri e centro storico
Piazza Martiri, 42046 Reggiolo