Cisano Bird Festival Achieves Record Attendance and embraces Tradition
Not fewer than one hundred thousand people took turns during the six days of celebration dedicated to the Cisano bird festival. An achievement well above expectations for the centuries-old event, which has crossed the Millennium threshold and concluded on Monday evening with a spectacular fireworks display over the lake. “Thanks mainly to the beautiful days and warm September evenings,” admits the president of the Sagra Association Alberto Salvetti, “but also to the right choice of focusing exclusively on high-quality entertainment orchestras that attract many dance enthusiasts.”
Traditions and Innovations of the Festival
Some consider the festival to be somewhat disappointing, as each year it strays from its traditions to embrace current trends. “Up to a point,” explains Salvetti while at the bar counter and selling tickets for refreshments, “since modern life has created a distance between humans, nature, and other living beings. Aware of this, every year the festival proposes,” he states, “on September 8th, the traditional competition of the best spring birds among blackbirds, thrushes, finches, larks, and tordinas, along with a beauty contest for native bird groups. Additionally, since last year, in compliance with laws and regulations, a bird exchange show—both native and exotic species—in collaboration with the Associazione ornitologica scaligera.”
It is difficult to do more in this field, which was heavily criticized in the past due to the mistaken belief that anything related to migratory hunting was criminal.” “It then became necessary,” continues the president, “to give the festival a new face without losing contact with tradition. This led to a revolution in exhibition spaces, which started last year with the placement of birds in Villa Marzan Park, the relocation of the playground, and the concentration of the market at Riva Palafitte and the tent theater that hosted dance evenings in the Lido area. This was done both for visitors’ safety and to avoid hindering traffic on the Gardesana, which runs through Cisano.”
Results and New Initiatives
Does this suggest that they are on the right path for renewed tradition? “It’s the hope of everyone,” says Salvetti, “as evenings featuring the Latin American band L’Araya Lain Sound and the famous Brazilian group Ipanema Show; along with entertainment by orchestras led by Titti Bianchi, Magri & Lisoni, Gianruggero, Luca Bergamini, and Gabriele Zilioli, have attracted thousands of people. Guests, besides enjoying the shows, appreciated local dishes in the bars and spaces organized by the Association, especially quails wrapped in pancetta and cooked with a splash of white wine, as well as tripe and tastasal risotto.”
All in all, this has been a good deal for the Sagra Association, which is active annually with various entertainment events. “This year started with the Motor Club Bardolino motorcycle rally in May, followed by the national Lambrette rally of the Triveneto Club in June, leading up to the non-competitive Caminà del leorin race with three thousand registrants, and will conclude in January with the arrival of the Befana.” The effort is considered ” feasible because we rely on about a thirty volunteers working for free, enough, combined with municipal support, to organize everything and cover all expenses.”