Varignana di Notte

Varignana di Notte: a village festival that has been running for over thirty years

There is an event that every July transforms the hilly village of Varignana, a hamlet of Castel San Pietro Terme in the Metropolitan City of Bologna, into a small open-air stage: it is Varignana di Notte, one of the most beloved summer festivals in the Apennine Emilia-Romagna region. Born in the early nineties and now in its thirtieth edition, the event enlivens the village streets and squares for several evenings — the heart of it all is Piazza San Lorenzo — with a program that blends culture, music, games, and good food.

Vari.China: the comics and illustration festival

The most recognizable soul of the festival is Vari.China, the illustration and comics festival that has brought cartoonists, illustrators, and self-publishing collectives to Varignana for many years. Through exhibitions, artist stalls, drawing competitions, and "drawn concerts," Vari.China has hosted groups like Urban Sketchers Bologna, Slowcomix, and the Alambicco Comics collective over the years, turning the evenings into a meeting point for ink and pencil enthusiasts.

Music, street theatre, and performances

The evenings come alive with live concerts and DJ sets that go on until late at night, accompanied by the Festival Strade, a travelling festival of puppet and street theatre. Over the years, bands like Le Capre a Sonagli, Baseball Gregg, and Dub Engine have performed on the festival stages, while street artists, clowns, and puppet shows entertain both adults and children along the village.

Gastronomy: the "zdore's" tortelloni

It's impossible to talk about Varignana di Notte without mentioning its food stalls. From 7 PM onwards, you can enjoy aperitifs, beers, and traditional Romagna dishes: fried cod, fried polenta, strozzapreti, grilled meats, filled piadine, and especially the famous handmade tortelloni made by the "zdore", the Varignana women who are guardians of home cooking.

For families

The festival is also designed for children, with drawing workshops, board games, play areas, and dedicated shows. All with free admission, in a picturesque hilly setting just a few kilometers from the thermal baths of Castel San Pietro.

A local festival

Varignana di Notte is organized by the Comitato Varignana di Notte (Varignana di Notte Committee) with the patronage of the Municipality of Castel San Pietro Terme and the collaboration of the Pro Loco, and has been part of the Estate Castellana (Castellana Summer) program for years, the summer review that brings music, food and wine, shows, and sports to the entire municipal area.