Valmastallone Traditional Costume Festival

A costume parade in the heart of Valmastallone

The Valmastallone Traditional Costume Festival is an event that celebrates the folk heritage of one of the most picturesque valleys in Northern Piedmont. It takes place in Fobello, a town in the province of Vercelli nestled in the Valmastallone, a side branch of the wider Valsesia valley, at the foot of the Monte Rosa massif. In the afternoon, folk groups from the valley's villages parade along the streets and squares of the historic center, creating a procession of colors, fabrics, and embroidery that tell the story of centuries of alpine community life.

The ancient costumes of Fobello and the valley

The traditional costume of Fobello is considered one of the most beautiful and elaborate in the entire Piedmontese Alps. Worn by women during major religious and civil occasions, it is characterized by fine fabrics, intense colors, and finely crafted details. A hallmark of the valley's identity is the puncetto valsesiano, a refined needle lace made entirely by hand that embellishes shirts, shawls, and bonnets. The festival is an opportunity to admire these garments in person, often passed down from generation to generation and also preserved at the Museo Carestia Tirozzo in Fobello, which houses a prestigious collection.

A valley rich in traditions

Valmastallone boasts a calendar of festivals deeply linked to the cycle of the year and religious devotion: from the Corpus Domini processions, where women display precious fabrics from their balconies, to summer patronal feasts, and the evocative customs linked to baptisms and Carnival. The costume parade is part of this fabric of traditions, bringing together groups from the different villages of the valley in one great celebration of local identity.

Program of the day

• Afternoon: Parade of folk groups from the Valmastallone villages through the streets and squares of Fobello;
• Following: Refreshments and a convivial moment at the Circolo Oltracqua.

Why attend

Organized by ATL Valsesia with the collaboration of the Pro Loco of Fobello, the festival is an authentic experience for those wishing to discover the alpine culture of Valsesia away from mass tourism circuits. A walk among the traditional costumes, in a village in the Municipality of Fobello immersed in the greenery of the Piedmontese mountains, is ideal to combine with a visit to local museums and the valley's hiking trails.