Event: Ancient Festival of Saint Matthias the Apostle (156th edition)
When: 📅 From 19 to 23 February 2026
Where: 📍 Caldiero (VR) – Teatrotenda and town centre streets
Info: 🎪 Luna Park, traditional dinner, live music, stalls and charity fishing pond
A journey through local flavours and traditions in Caldiero
In just a few days, you should not miss the chance to enjoy an authentic experience just a few kilometres from the city. From 19 to 23 February 2026, the small municipality of Caldiero hosts the 156th edition of the Ancient Festival of Saint Matthias the Apostle, an event that for more than a century has celebrated the patron saint with genuine flavours, live music and fun for the whole family.
The popular festival is the heart of the local community, a moment in which tradition and conviviality come together under the big tent theatre and along the village streets. For visitors, it is a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the most authentic Veronese culture, far from the usual tourist circuits.
The real star of the festival is undoubtedly traditional Veronese food. Under the marquee, a menu rich in specialities awaits you, telling the gastronomic history of the area: from bollito with pearà (a spicy sauce based on bread and bone marrow) to polenta and herring, from bigoli with sardine sauce to tripe Parmigiana, all the way to stew with polenta and risotto al tastasal.
In addition to the culinary delights, the festival offers a respectable musical programme that will liven up your evenings. It kicks off on Thursday 19 February with "Luci-Oh", a tribute show to Lucio Battisti. On Friday 20 it will be the turn of Alterego with DJs Ale Pulga, Paolo Martini and Pizeta. The weekend continues on Saturday 21 with the Diapason Band, a Vasco Rossi tribute band, and on Sunday 22 with Rotti X Caso, dedicated to 883 and Max Pezzali. The grand finale comes on Monday 23 with Selena Valle's orchestra.
Throughout all the days of the festival, the Luna Park with its colourful rides will entertain young and old, while the stalls and the traditional charity fishing pond will round out the festive atmosphere of this not-to-be-missed event in the Veronese tradition.