Modena Events

Modena’s year runs on food production and motor sport, with one large civic festival.

The Motor Valley season, spring

From spring the province runs a cluster of motoring events — track days, historic parades, factory open days and the Motor Valley Fest in the city. Dates move year to year and the larger ones fill hotels across Modena and Bologna.

San Geminiano, 31 January

The city’s patron saint, marked with a long street fair through the centre in the coldest week of the year. It is a townspeople’s day and the opposite of a tourist event.

The harvest and the boiling

Grapes are picked in September and the must is cooked immediately — the start of a batch that will not be tasted for twelve years. Autumn also brings the Lambrusco festivals in the Castelvetro hills, and Vignola’s cherry blossom draws people in April.

Zampone season

Zampone and cotechino belong to the turn of the year and are eaten with lentils at New Year across the region. Both are Modenese in origin and are at their best in December and January.

Outside the motoring weekends, rooms here are easy in any month.