Storo, where tradition and celebration go hand-in-hand: the polenta festival
Storo is the undisputed capital of Italian polenta, a food that has made it famous in Italy and around the world. This town is the beating heart of a unique, historic and authentic variety of corn production, processed with skill, packaged with care and enjoyed in the form of extraordinary culinary creations.
WHEN?
On the first weekend of October, the town in lower Chiese plays host to what is now an unmissable event — the Polenta Festival. This event is regularly put on by the Storo M2 Pro Loco and Storo's Agri Novanta cooperative, with support from the Municipality of Storo, the Madonna di Campiglio Tourist Board, the Bim del Chiese (the River Chiese mountain catchment area), the Autonomous Province of Trento and Trentino Marketing.
It is two action-packed days of beguiling aromas, exquisite flavours and autumn colours. A culinary itinerary, where the entire community comes together to celebrate. The event is entirely dedicated to the valley’s premier product, the famous yellow flour and the main dish of mountain cuisine, polenta. Every year, the streets of the historic centre are filled with locals and tourists alike, all flocking to watch the brilliant live cooking show.
BEST POLENTA COMPETITIONAs part of the programme, there is a competition for the best polenta, which is awarded the prestigious and much-coveted Golden Pot. There is the battle to the last trisa (wooden spoon used for polenta), involving a variety of recipes that make your mouth water just thinking about them — polenta carbonera, polenta macafana, polenta with turnip, polenta with walnuts, polenta cucia — and that’s not even all the ways to eat polenta. Each variation of this poor man's dish that is rich in flavour and character is expertly cooked in large pots by polentèr, dedicated and talented volunteers who are committed to honing their skills in this culinary art.
The dishes are judged by two separate juries: an expert jury, made up of food and wine experts and journalists, and a citizen jury, who conduct their tastings at their tables. Participants are given a kit with a card so that they can taste the various dishes and cast a vote, along with a map of the area with the festival itinerary.
The event is a success year after year, showcasing how polenta, steeped in mountain culture, is a significant resource, even in haute cuisine, thanks to its versatility as an ingredient.
ADDITIONAL EVENTSThere are also a number of extra events. On Sunday, Storo’s squares and alleys will showcase the wares of local artisans and producers. Chestnuts will be roasted, their aroma heralding the arrival of autumn. Individuals and companies can also enter the Festival Scarecrow competition, displaying their creations just as we once would have done in the fields to scare off the grain-hungry crows and ravens. To create an even more vibrant and engaging atmosphere, bands and folk groups will be playing throughout the day to keep festival-goers entertained.
An explosion of colours and flavours, enhanced by the scenery and sounds of Storo’s historic centre: this event is not to be missed!
HISTORY OF THE POLENTA FESTIVAL
The idea for the Polenta Festival was born out of the close partnership between the Storo M2 Pro Loco and the Agri Novanta Cooperative, first taking place in Storo in 2015.
That year marked the beginning of a tradition that, over time, has become an increasingly significant event in the food and tourism sector. Each year of the festival has been an ode to flavour, local craftsmanship and Trentino hospitality, with its tourism and promotional value earning it a prominent place in Pro Loco's activities calendar.
AIM OF THE FESTIVALSince its beginnings, the Polenta Festival has passionately embraced a dual purpose. The first aim is to promote and support local and Valle del Chiese agriculture and craftsmanship, capitalising on the reputation of Storo’s yellow flour and polenta. Secondly, the event has sought to boost tourism and raise awareness about everything the Valle del Chiese (and, more broadly, the neighbouring valleys and Trentino) can offer tourists, leveraging the significant influx of people from outside the province, which has increased exponentially over the years.
The Polenta Festival's popularity reached its peak in 2019, when it welcomed almost 10,000 visitors. The following year, however, was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented volunteers from holding the event.
In 2021, the festival was held once again — albeit pared back to comply with the health restrictions at the time — as a sign of hope and renewal for the community. In 2022, the Polenta Festival resumed its old format, in all its glory and vitality, drawing around 8,000 visitors.
