Va' Sentiero Fest (Scontrone → Pescasseroli stage)

A festival on the move

Va' Sentiero Fest is no ordinary festival: it is Italy's first expedition-festival, a nomadic event where the program unfolds on foot, stage by stage, along the trails of the Apennines. Born from the experience of the Va' Sentiero project—the grand expedition along the Sentiero Italia—the format combines slow-paced trekking with a widespread calendar of cultural meetings, concerts, presentations, and discussions hosted in the villages along the route.

The Scontrone stage in the Alto Sangro

In the 2025 edition, dedicated to the territory between Molise and Abruzzo, the festival stopped in Scontrone, a small town in the province of L'Aquila perched on a rocky spur at the mouth of the Gole di Barrea, bordering the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. From here, the caravan of hikers continued towards Pescasseroli, traversing some of the most iconic landscapes of the central Apennines. Participation in the hikes is free and open to everyone: anyone can join the group for one or more stages, needing only a backpack and the desire to get involved.

Trekking, culture, and community

What makes Va' Sentiero Fest special is the blend of outdoor sports and cultural programming. Along the route, encounters with explorers, expert naturalists, and guides alternate with dialogues on the future of the Highlands and inland areas, environmental education activities like foraging, orienteering sessions, and evenings filled with music and storytelling. The festival particularly highlights the Orange Flag (Bandiera Arancione) villages of the Italian Touring Club, involving local communities in welcoming the hikers.

Scontrone and the National Park

The Municipality of Scontrone, in the Alto Sangro, serves as one of the gateways to Italy's oldest national park. Its territory, nestled between the Sangro river and the mountains of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, provides an ideal setting for an event that focuses on walking and the authentic discovery of inland Abruzzo. The festival stage is part of the village's vibrant summer, packed with traditional and sporting events.

2026 Edition

The Va' Sentiero project continues its journey: for 2026, the expedition-festival has announced a move towards the Pollino National Park, between Basilicata and Calabria. At the moment, no dates have been announced for a 2026 stage in Scontrone or Abruzzo: the return of the trail to the paths of the Alto Sangro remains to be confirmed.