Art, Craft, Music and… Stuffed Onions in Almese

Musical evenings, dinners and tastings, theater, art exhibitions, markets,
guided tours, traditional games, sporting events, and dance.
From Thursday, October 1st to Sunday, October 11th, the "Arte, Artigianato, Musica e… Siole Pien-e" (Art, Craftsmanship, Music, and… Stuffed Onions) program will bring the Almese hamlet to life. The star of the show is the flat, blonde Piedmontese onion; it can be enjoyed starting Thursday the 1st at participating local restaurants and throughout the weekend during the events on this year’s packed schedule.

THE PROGRAM
Things kick off on Friday, October 2nd, at 6:30 PM at the Ricetto di San Mauro with the opening of "Esordi, ricerca e sperimentazioni" (Beginnings, Research, and Experimentation), an exhibition by artist Donatella Gagliardi—winner of the 2025 impromptu art contest and creator of this edition's visual identity.
At 9:00 PM, municipal authorities will inaugurate the event in the festival marquee (*Palatenda*), followed by a concert from the Rivera Philharmonic, conducted by Maestro Giorgio Bunino; the band’s repertoire is enriched with original pieces every year, and it is notable for the presence of many young musicians.
Saturday, October 3rd, opens with the first edition of the "Torneo della Siola" (Onion Tournament), an event created in collaboration with ISIL Volley Almese that will see Under-19 teams competing at the Almese sports center over the weekend. Starting at 9:00 AM, the Rivera Philharmonic will hold a musical walkabout, accompanied by the traditional distribution of *Sonetti* (commemorative poems). By 2:00 PM, contest dishes must be submitted at the parish theater (*Teatrino parrocchiale*): adults and children alike will compete in apple pie and stuffed onion categories, with a jury of students from the Formont Institute in Oulx determining the winners. At 3:30 PM, a bread and cookie-making workshop with Angela—an event that delights children of all ages every year—will take place at the communal oven (*Forno Comunale*). At 4:00 PM, the sculpture exhibition "L’attimo e la Forma" (The Moment and the Form) by local artist Ivo Bonino will be inaugurated. The day concludes with the "Witches’ Dinner" (*Cena delle Streghe*), a unique theatrical performance accompanied by dinner, served in the event marquee starting at 8:00 PM.

On Sunday, October 4th, the event kicks off in the morning: the market along the streets of Rivera opens at 9:00 AM and runs all day, featuring local products, artistic handicrafts, and Slow Food Presidia items.
From 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, art takes center stage in Rivera with the "La Cipolla in Festa" (Onion Festival) *en plein air* art event organized by the Cumalè Association. Additionally, the sports field will host traditional games, while the Parish Hall will feature a charity stall run by the youth of the Oratory. From 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Via Santo Stefano will host the "Motor Vej d’la Valsusa" vintage car exhibition.
At 11:00 AM, a solemn Mass will be held, followed by a procession through the village streets.

Starting at 12:00 PM on the sports field, *Siole Pien-e* (stuffed onions) and *Bignette cui Pum* (apple fritters) will be served, alongside tastings of local products. From 2:30 PM, the event marquee will host dance performances by "Armonia del Movimento," and from 3:00 PM onwards, "Il Bosco racconta..." (The Forest Tells a Story) offers magical adventures for children in collaboration with the "Bosco delle Meraviglie" (Forest of Wonders).
Also starting at 3:00 PM, the Italian Hiking Federation is organizing a guided tour of the medieval Tower of San Mauro, while Donatella Gagliardi’s exhibition continues in the *Ricetto* premises (open 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM). At 4:00 PM, the grand finale of the "Torneo della Siola" (Onion Tournament)—an Under-19 volleyball competition—will take place at the Almese Municipal Sports Hall. Starting at 5:00 PM in the event tent, the awards ceremonies will take place for the Stuffed Onion and Cake Competition, the Volleyball Tournament, and the impromptu art contest.
On Monday, October 5th, at 7:00 PM, a tasting dinner will be held featuring the *Associazione Cuochi della Mole* (Mole Chefs Association) cooking alongside young members of the *l’Un e l’AUT* association. The star ingredient will be the "Cipolla bionda Piatta di Drubiaglio" (a Slow Food Presidium onion), paired with rare wines from the Susa Valley—curated by the *Associazione Tutela Baratuciat e Vitigni Storici della Sacra*—and featuring Vermouth Trinchieri from Turin.
Sunday, October 11th, will see the "Duathlon del Messa," a memorial event honoring Ghibaudo and Gandiglio—two great local champions from Almese in cycling and running. Starting at 10:00 AM at the Almese Bike Park on Via Granaglie, the event features a relay race for pairs (cyclist and runner) on a dirt course overlooking the Messa stream; it is a non-competitive event open to both adults and children.

STUFFED ONIONS AND APPLE FRITTERS
On Sunday, October 4th, the event’s main attractions will be the "Siole Pien-e" (stuffed onions) prepared in the Rivera style—featuring *amaretti* cookies—as well as a meat-based version; both are prepared in large quantities by the women of Rivera. Also on the menu are "*Bignette cui Pum*" (apple fritters), fried fresh on the spot and served dusted with sugar.
Visitors can also taste local products prepared fresh at the various food stalls. Once again this year, whole trays of *Siole Pien-e* can be pre-ordered by calling 3522914908 by Thursday, October 1st, for pickup on Friday the 2nd (4:00 PM – 8:00 PM) or Saturday the 3rd (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM).

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program (1.5 MB)

Related place

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Almese Municipality - Almese

The Ricetto of St. Maurus - Almese