Waiting for San Michele

A journey toward the San Michele Feast

Waiting for San Michele is a widespread festival series in Telve, located in the Autonomous Province of Trento and the heart of Valsugana (Trentino-Alto Adige), which guides the community toward the traditional San Michele Feast. In the weeks leading up to the last Sunday of September, the historic center of the village transforms into a vibrant hub of cultural, historical, recreational, and culinary events designed for all ages.

A rich and varied program

The festival weaves together different themes and audiences: from nature-focused meetings to guided tastings, art exhibition openings to concerts, and traditional games for children. Typical events in Telve include:

• informative evenings dedicated to the local area, such as talks on mushrooms and the valley's nature;
• local wine tastings with sommeliers, paired with finger food and regional wineries;
• openings of art and graphic exhibitions held in the library and municipal halls;
• concerts by the Telve Folk Band and musical performances in the square;
• creative workshops and traditional games for children and families;
• riddle games and activities in iconic village spots, such as the Castell'Alto area.

The bond with the San Michele Feast

Waiting for San Michele is not an isolated event, but the prelude to the San Michele Feast, the main celebration that concludes the series. The feast is a culinary and cultural journey winding through the streets of Telve: about thirty stations set up in arcades, gardens, and alleys offer local products such as honey, cheese, berries, and cured meats, as well as traditional dishes like strauben, strudel, gulaschsuppe, tripe, pasta de luganeghe, tosella, polenta with venison, and the famous tonco de ponteselo. Piazza Maggiore hosts the farmers' market with zero-mile producers, while local painters, sculptors, and artisans bring an authentic open-air exhibition to life.

A defining event for Telve

Organized by the San Michele Committee Association, the festival is an expression of the vitality of the Telve and Valsugana community. Every year, the feast attracts an average of over four thousand visitors, drawn by the flavors, knowledge, and traditions of the village. Waiting for San Michele extends this celebration over time, offering several days of gathering, culture, and conviviality in the Trentino village.