LAST SUNDAY OF APRIL - CANALE - MERCATINO DELLE PULCI (FLEA MARKET)
This open air flee market offers about everything one can dream of in a flee market, including old furniture, nails, farmer's tools, as well as South East Asia clothing, shoes and miscellaneous. Should one want to attend this event don't miss the stand of the Centro Volontari Assistenza, a volunteer organization that sells mouth watering snacks: zucchini, or onion omelettes, "carne cruda" (that is meat Carpaccio), roast of veal with "salsa tonnata" (tuna fish sauce), and other delicacies. The stall is normally set up at the beginning of Via Roma, at the corner with Piazza San Bernardino, but could also be in the church's square: but since it is the only stands which sells snacks, be patient, look around and find it: it is worth the sandwich. Two week-ends per year are dedicated to the flee markets in Canale, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. Unfortunately the date these events are held may vary from year to year, so it is a good idea to check the dates by calling 0173-979129 or by sending an e-mail to Claudia.
MAY 1st MONTALDO ROERO - PIANTÉ MAGG (TO SOW MAY)
Pianté Magg is a very old pagan tradition meant to favour a good harvest season by planting, in the village square, the trunk of a pine tree, the "pess-ra" found, and stolen, from its rightful, although abusive, owner, generally some lord or other, in the nearby forests. The bark is stripped from the trunk, and left bare, with only a few green leafs and branches to top it off; it is then decorated with multicoloured ribbons, some flowers, and the puppet of a dog, symbol of the patron saint of Montaldo Roero, San Rocco. The trunk is set in place by the men of the village, in this case the men from the district of the namesake saint patron, the 1st of May of each year, and is left there until the 16th of August, by which time it has either been of good or of bad omen (as far as the harvest season is concerned). On this very day the trunk is auctioned off: the money raised is used by the Pro Loco to finance some of it's activities. In ancient times the winner of the auction would use the trunk as part of other such pieces of wood to support the roof of its house. The village is striving to maintain this pre-Christian tradition. The program provides for the stealing of the trunk in the woods close to Montaldo, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a costumed procession in the village streets. At 3:30 p.m. the three trunk is raised in the village square: live music and folkloric dancing enlighten the ceremony. At 7:00 p.m. the real party begins with the dinner, served in the village square, for € 15.00 per person. The dinner is followed by more live music and folk dancing. For reservations and info call 0172 40241.
FIRST FRIDAY OF MAY - MONTICELLO D'ALBA - ARTS, CRAFT AND FLAVOURS
This spring gathering starts the first Friday of the month and ends the following Sunday. Friday events feature a photo exhibition around the theme "arts, crafts and tastes of Roero". The dinner on Saturday evening is held at the Giovanni Paolo II lounge. Sunday offers non-stop attractions from 9:00 in the morning to early evening: these include the costumed parade, the flag throwing, the choral singing, the nutella party and the open air market offering local delicacies and produce. For info call 0173-64113 or 0173-64468 or 0173-64691
FIRST SUNDAY OF MAY - MONTÀ - FESTA 'D MAGG (MAY'S PARTY)
A farmer's spring party in celebration of the month of May. Held on the "Via Crucis" of Madonna del Pilone, and on the Sanctuary of the Pilone. The party is organized around a paint and photo contest, the visit of the Sanctuary, the lunch where the "Tinca Gobba Dorata", the golden hunchbacked tenches of Ceresole d'Alba are cooked and served with the Roero wines produced in Montà, the "Merenda", an afternoon snack, and an evening's aperitif with appetizers and live music. For info call 0173-977410.
ANTIQUE FURNITURE MARKET - CHERASCO - 9th OF MAY
The antique furniture market of Cherasco offers on display more than 5 km worth of antiques all in and around it's historic centre. Antique vases, ceramics, clothes and books are also on display. Antique dealers and collectors come from North Italy and France. More than 25,000 people attended this fair last year and walked trough the historic streets of town, among medieval and baroque buildings, eighteenth century churches and suggestive pedestrian squares.
SECOND SUNDAY OF MAY and SECOND SUNDAY OF JULY - CANALE - OPTIMA ROERO
Optima Roero is an event sponsored by the city of Canale in collaboration with SlowFood, twice a year. Slow Food is the organization promoting slow, organic food and drinks (as opposed to the fast food one's). It's an open air market, along via Roma, where farmers and merchants set up stalls where they display and sell farm products and produce grown or made in Roero and for which Roero is known, such as the "Pesche of Canale", the strawberries, the honey, the chestnuts, the Bra cheese, the salami's, the "Mostarda or Cougnà" (wine must cooked for several hours with or without fruits), and the "Prosciutto Arrosto of Canale" (Roast Prosciutto). In May the honours belong to the strawberries, and the flowers, whereas in July it is the peaches. Other activities are organized around this event such as lunch and dinner in selected restaurants of Roero, guided visits to the Rocche and toasts featuring the Birbet, a naughty sweet red produced in Roero. This events are scheduled every year so they may be held on different dates year on, year off. Check the dates by calling 0173.979129.
THIRD FRIDAY OF MAY - BALDISSERO D'ALBA - LAND AND FLAVOURS
This is the trade fair of Baldissero: it features products, produce and cuisine typical of this village, like the strawberries, and strawberries' based recipes. Culminates with the lunch, held in the village's square. Lunch costs € 17.00/per adult and € 12:00/ per kid. Call 335-7734081 or 338-5080764 for reservations. Should any of these number fail try the local pro loco at 0172-40251. On Sunday the pro loco organizes walks on the "Sentiero dei Fossili" (fossil's trail) on the Rocche's.
THIRD SUNDAY OF MAY - POCAPAGLIA - EAT ON THE ROCCHE
This is a walking-cum-eating even. At the beginning of the trail you are provide a pouch with a glass, a fork, a knife and a spoon. The walk comprises different stages where locals have set-up stands serving food, from the "antipasto" (appetizers) to the "dolce" (dessert). The cost is € 17.00 for adults and € 10.00 for kids.
FORTH FRIDAY OF MAY - SOMMARIVA PERNO - STRAWBERRIES FESTIVAL
A surprise: I can't get any info on it yet!!!
FORTH SATURDAY OF MAY - PIOBESI D'ALBA - RAVIOLI'S FESTIVAL
Dinner party featuring the "Ravioli al plin" (pinched ravioli), BBQ'd meat, French fries, fruit cakes, and wines. Price is € 16.00 per person. For Info and reservation call 335-5347732 or e-mail Piero at pierocornero@tiscali.it (mail sent 24th October)
FORTH SUNDAY OF MAY - MONTÀ - PORTÉ DISNÉ (CARRY YOUR LUNCH)
This eno-gastronomic walk is very well organized, and extremely popular. The walk, which starts in Montà and ends in Canale, follows easy trails in the vineyards and woods of the area. Each stop is manned by locals which have cooked your meal and will serve it to you. It is recommended that you park your car in Canale: a shuttle bus will drive you to the starting point in Montà, free of charge. Each participants is given a basket with all you need to eat and drink. Attendance costs € 33.00 per adult and € 12.00 per kid. This event is very well attended: It is imperative to make a reservations by calling 0173-977423, at least 2 months in advance, and pay the full fare not later than 10 days later via bank transfer. For more info, as well as for reservations you can also log into the event's web site www.portedisne.it. The site is well done, and informative but is only available in Italian. The menu may have some variations from year to year, but it will generally comprise the following: Aperitifs: Bruschetta con Lardo (slices of oven or bbq'd bread coated with tomato's cuts dressed with olive oil and lard) served with Arneis or Favorita; Appetizers: Ratatouille, herb's omelettes, and small onions filled with minced veal meat, served with Arneis or Favorita; First dish: Risotto with asparagus and Barbera d'Alba; Main dish: bbq'd slices of veal with greens and Barbera d'Alba; Cheeses: Bra/Raschera cheese served with Roero red; Dessert: strawberries drown in Birbet served with Birbet sweet read wine. Buon Appetitio (Enjoy your Lunch)
30TH OF MAY - ANTICA FIERA DELLA CIGLIEGIA (ANCIENT CERRY FAIR) - DOGLIANI
This fair, which was first mentioned in the year 1897, is held in and around the Dogliani Castle, the higher part of town, where streets and squares host work from local artisans, and in the Borgo (village), the lower part of town, where visitors can sample all sort of delicacies made from cherries. All sort of work is on display: from hand made furniture to painting frames, ceramics, stone, glass and marble works, printings, photography , fireplaces and wood stoves, ancient post cards, hand made clothing and shoes and boots as well as typical biscuits and sweets and, of course the object of the fair: the Cherry.
