Woods Under the Stars

A Community Festival in the Bolognese Countryside

Boschi sotto le stelle is the traditional summer festival of the hamlet of Boschi, a small center in the Municipality of Baricella, in the low plains of the province of Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna. The event enlivens the heart of the village for two evenings, on Via Don Giovanni Minzoni, transforming a rural space into a meeting point for residents and visitors from the surrounding areas.

The initiative was born from the collaboration between local associations – the Associazione Donne Boschi, the Associazione Boschi, and the US Elio Bernardi – with the patronage of the Municipality of Baricella. It is a typical example of those hamlet festivals that, in the Bolognese plain, keep the sense of community alive from one generation to the next.

Food Stand and Traditional Flavors

The beating heart of the festival is the food stand, open from the evening. Among the offerings are grilled meat and arrosticini, accompanied by stalls from the market that brighten the evenings. The simple and genuine cuisine, served at outdoor tables, is an integral part of the experience: you eat together, under the stars, in the true spirit of an Emilian village fair.

Live Music and Dancing Under the Stars

The evenings are marked by live music and DJ sets. In recent editions, the program has alternated performances by big bands with numerous artists on stage with dance evenings featuring DJs and group dances, up to concerts by local cover bands. The outdoor dance floor attracts fans of ballroom dancing and entertainment music, in a familiar and festive atmosphere that lasts until late at night.

A Tradition of the Baricella Area

Baricella is part of the Union of Municipalities of the Terre di Pianura, a rural area northeast of Bologna rich in festivals, fairs, and community initiatives during the warm season. Boschi sotto le stelle is part of this calendar as one of the most cherished events by the hamlet, capable of combining conviviality, good food, and music in a free event open to all, ideal for a family evening.