Traditional Saint John's Fair

A historic fair in the Reggiano Apennines

The Traditional Saint John's Fair is one of the most cherished events of the summer in Vetto, a small municipality in the province of Reggio Emilia nestled on a natural balcony on the right bank of the Enza river, in the heart of the Reggiano Apennines. The fair takes place every year on the first Sunday of July and is part of the official calendar of public area fairs in the Emilia-Romagna Region, testifying to its deep roots in the life of the town.

The market and stalls

For the entire day, from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, the center of Vetto transforms into a large open-air market. The fair occupies Piazza Caduti Legoreccio, Piazza Marconi, and Viale Italia, with about thirty stalls divided between food and non-food vendors. Among the stalls, you'll find the classic street market, the market for typical and organic products, and artistic crafts and creative works: an opportunity to discover the flavors and knowledge of the Reggiano mountains.

A day for everyone

In addition to shopping among the stalls, the fair has always been a meeting point for the community and for those who come up from the nearby valleys. Recent editions have included inflatables and games for children, making the day suitable for families, while the eve of the fair sees the town come alive with evenings of music and ballroom dancing in the piazza. The Saint John's Fair thus fits into the rich tradition of fairs and festivals in the Reggiano Apennines, a land of historic markets and village festivals linked to patron saints and the products of the earth.

Vetto and its territory

Visiting the fair is also an opportunity to discover Vetto and its village, which houses the medieval Church of San Lorenzo and the ancient Osteria del Turo, a 17th-century tower house. The municipal territory is part of the MAB UNESCO Apennine Tosco-Emiliano Reserve and is crossed by hiking trails such as the Sentiero dei Ducati, between the Tassaro and Tassobbio valleys. A natural setting that makes the Saint John's Fair a small but significant summer event in Emilia.