Food festivals in Bologna worth planning a trip around, by month.

Festivals through the year

Mortadella Bo ★ 4.5

OctoberMid-Oct, 3 days

Mortadella Bo in Bologna is the annual mortadella festival held the second weekend of October on Piazza Maggiore, with 30 producers, tastings.

Focus: Mortadella di Bologna IGP

Tip: Free entry; the producers' booths run 10:00-22:00 across three days. The Mortadella IGP world record is held Saturday at 17:00.

Piazza Maggiore, 40124 Bologna BO

SANA ★ 4.3

SeptemberMid-Sep, 4 daysTicket needed

SANA at BolognaFiere is Italy's largest organic and natural products trade fair, held four days each September with 700 exhibitors of organic food.

Focus: Organic, natural and bio food

Tip: Trade fair tickets are 25 euros online or 35 at the door; the public day is Sunday and the consumer tasting halls are the most-attended.

BolognaFiere, Viale della Fiera 20, 40127 Bologna BO

Tartufesta ★ 4.5

OctoberOct-Nov, weekends

Tartufesta in Savigno, 30 minutes outside Bologna, is the autumn white-truffle festival, held the last weekends of October and the first three of November.

Focus: White truffle, Savigno

Tip: Free entry; the Sunday market in Piazza XV Agosto is the busiest. Reserve trattoria lunch tables three weeks ahead.

Savigno, Valsamoggia, 40060 Bologna BO

Festa del Tortellino di Castelfranco ★ 4.2

SeptemberMid-Sep, 4 days

Festa del Tortellino di Castelfranco, 25 minutes from Bologna, is the annual tortellino festival held mid-September in Castelfranco Emilia, the dish hometown.

Focus: Tortellino

Tip: Free entry; the stalls run 18:00 to midnight across four days. Trains from Bologna Centrale to Castelfranco Emilia run every 30 minutes.

Castelfranco Emilia, 41013 Modena MO

C'è Più Gusto ★ 4.2

OctoberMid-October, 2 days

C'è Più Gusto at Palazzo Re Enzo in Bologna is the annual mid-October food and culinary culture festival with stars of Italian and international cuisine.

Focus: Italian and international cuisine talks, tastings, masterclasses

Tip: Free entry; ticketed masterclasses sell out a week ahead. Saturday lunch programme is the editorial pick.

Palazzo Re Enzo, Piazza del Nettuno, 1/c, 40124 Bologna BO

Festa della Polenta di Zola Predosa ★ 4.0

NovemberEarly Nov, 3 days

Festa della Polenta di Zola Predosa, 15 minutes outside Bologna, is the autumn polenta festival held early November with the slow-cooked polenta.

Focus: Polenta, Apennine cuisine

Tip: Free entry; the stalls run 11:00 to midnight. The Saturday-evening polenta dinner is the order; buses from Bologna run every 30 minutes.

Piazza della Repubblica, 40069 Zola Predosa BO
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