On 3 and 4 October, Predazzo celebrates the return from the mountain pastures with a weekend marking the end of summer in the mountains. On Sunday, the traditional parade of cows and farmers will make its way through the village, while the Festival del Gusto, Treno del Gusto, Passeggiata del Pastore and Autunno in Tavola will add to a celebration that highlights the deep connection between agriculture, local traditions and the territory of Val di Fiemme.

First come the bells. Then the cows, the farmers, the colourful decorations and the crowds lining the streets.

Every autumn, this is how Predazzo says goodbye to the summer spent at high altitude and welcomes the animals back down into the valley. This is the essence of the Desmontegada de le Vache, one of the most distinctive events in Val di Fiemme’s autumn calendar.

A celebration rooted in the centuries-old tradition of seasonal mountain grazing, which today continues to showcase the relationship between the mountains, the daily work of farmers and the products that make their way from the pastures to the table.

For an entire weekend, Predazzo becomes a meeting point between rural heritage and contemporary life.

After spending the summer grazing on the mountain pastures, the cows and farmers return to the valley. In Predazzo, this seasonal transition becomes a major community celebration, with the traditional parade taking place on Sunday, 4 October, as it winds through the village streets.

But behind the parade lies much more than folklore. There is the daily work of the farmers, the care of the animals, life on the mountain pastures and an entire production chain connecting the mountains directly to local dairy production.

Throughout the weekend, Piazza SS. Filippo e Giacomo will host the Festival del Gusto, bringing together local producers and artisans and showcasing some of the valley’s finest food products.

Among the highlights will be the Caseificio Sociale di Predazzo e Moena, a dairy cooperative representing a cheesemaking tradition deeply rooted in the history of Val di Fiemme.

The Festival del Gusto will also offer activities for families, with workshops and experiences for children organised, among others, by the Geological Museum of Predazzo and La Stazione – Destinazione Cultura.

From the mountain pasture to the dairy: the Treno del Gusto

One of the experiences taking place during the weekend is the Treno del Gusto, an itinerary designed to explore some of the key stages in the local milk production chain.

The stable, milking process and dairy become different stops along a story that leads all the way to the finished product, accompanied by a narrated aperitif focusing on local traditions.

It is an opportunity to see at close range what usually reaches the table without revealing all the stages behind it, and to understand the territory through the work of the people who live and work here every day.

Among the new features of the 2026 edition is the Passeggiata del Pastore, an experience that invites participants to walk through the valley landscape, accompanied by a delicious breakfast.

It follows a different rhythm from the lively Sunday celebration: slower, immersed in the surrounding landscape and closely connected to the everyday life of the mountains.

This is also one of the defining elements of today’s Desmontegada: not simply watching an event, but spending a few hours immersed in the traditions that have helped shape Predazzo’s identity.

Another new feature for 2026 will be the new event area at the former riding arena in Löze.

On Sunday, the area will host the Desmontegada lunch, accompanied by music and entertainment. The celebrations will already begin on Saturday evening with a night dedicated to 1990s dance music, while on Sunday the Fleimstaler and Mountain Crew will continue the entertainment after the parade and lunch.

From 26 September to 4 October, Autunno in Tavola will also return, involving restaurants and farm stays belonging to the Tradizione e Gusto club and the Strada dei Formaggi delle Dolomiti.

It is the natural continuation of the celebration: after watching the animals return from the mountain pastures and meeting local producers and artisans, the flavours of the territory make their way directly onto the plate.

Cuisine therefore becomes another way of “tasting” the mountains, through ingredients, recipes and products that follow the natural rhythm of the seasons.

The Desmontegada de le Vache is a celebration that is difficult to fully describe without experiencing its atmosphere: from the mountain pastures to the stables, from the dairy to the tables set for a feast, a thread connects the entire territory, bringing together its flavours, traditions and the everyday work behind them.

And when the cows return to the valley, it will officially be time to welcome autumn, officially.