Waiting for Christmas – Pro Loco Advent Calendar

A widespread Advent in the heart of Valsugana

Waiting for Christmas is the community Advent calendar promoted by the Pro Loco of Torcegno, a small village nestled among the chestnut groves of the Valsugana plateau, in the province of Trento and the Trentino-Alto Adige region. This is not a Christmas market or a single festival, but a collaborative project that spans the entire month of December: every day, a new "window" of the calendar opens along the village streets.

How the calendar works

The calendar is composed by about thirty families and private citizens, alongside the local kindergarten and the CS4 Social Cooperative. Each participant creates a Christmas decoration or illuminates a window in the evening, allowing these small works to be admired from the street by those strolling through Torcegno.

• Every day, a new decoration or window is unveiled and photographed;
• the images are printed and displayed on a board in the village square;
• simultaneously, the photos are published online and on the Pro Loco's social media channels;
• this creates a dual calendar, both physical and digital, that brings the whole community together.

A bond that reaches overseas

The online version of the calendar has received affectionate responses even from Brazil, where many descendants of the "traozeneri" live—emigrants who left Torcegno over a century ago and remain deeply connected to their ancestors' home village. This is one of the most beautiful aspects of the initiative: making Christmas a bridge between those who stay and those who are far away.

The gathering in the square

The highlight is the dedicated day in December, an afternoon in Piazza Maggiore that accompanies the unveiling of one of the calendar's decorations. The celebration is enriched by family Christmas readings hosted by Nati per Leggere volunteers, Christmas melodies performed by a group of local young musicians, and a tasting of artisanal cookies prepared by Pro Loco volunteers.

From Advent to Epiphany

The festive journey concludes on the afternoon of Epiphany, dedicated to the little ones: magic shows, soap bubbles, and the highly anticipated arrival of the Befana, who distributes small gifts. It is an affectionate way to bid farewell to the holidays and thank everyone who made the calendar possible.

Why it's worth visiting

Waiting for Christmas is an opportunity to discover the authentic atmosphere of a Trentino village during the holidays, far from the large tourist crowds. It is a Christmas made of simple gestures, community spirit, and popular tradition, reflecting the true soul of Torcegno and the Valsugana valley.