Desenzano’s Duck Feast Festival Celebrates Tradition with Sports, Music, and Culture

The legendary “Duck Feast” remains more vibrant than ever, a popular tradition that dates back to the distant past and is once again celebrated this year by the Parrocchia San Giovanni Lavoratore of Desenzano del Garda, sponsored by the Assessorato al Turismo.

The ancient popular and religious festival will take place in piazza Garibaldi, at the heart of the bustling Capolaterra neighborhood, from today until Sunday, September 2nd, to honor the patron saint San Giovanni decollato.

The program of events is as rich as always, including a charity fish raffle, bingo, music, sports, gastronomy, ballroom dance, and many other entertainments.

Festival Program and Activities

Today, the first day of the celebration, at 7 p.m. an exhibition by Franco Oneta titled “Original Panels” and drawings by kindergarten children will be inaugurated; at 9 p.m., a concert by the Banda cittadina directed by Massimo Pennati.

Tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m., sports events will commence: the mini_volleyball tournament “Duck Feast“, the third Maurizio Manfrin trophy (registration at the bar oratorio), and the bocce tournament for the Don Dino Visentini trophy (on the Circolino courts).

At 7 p.m., the usual gastronomic stand will open, followed by ballroom dancing and “Kids in the Square“, a performance by emerging bands.

Sunday morning at 10 a.m. will feature finals for the sports tournaments; from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., a spontaneous drawing event for children aged 10 to 12, with awards distributed around 5 p.m. in the oratorio courtyard. At 3 p.m., organized games for children.

At 6 p.m., the awards for the sports tournaments and the grand bingo will take place. At 9 p.m., the bocce tournament awards, ballroom dance, and “Kids in the Square” will be celebrated.

Origin and Tradition of the Duck Feast

The Duck Feast originates from a custom that persisted through the years until after World War II. Farmers at that time, reluctantly, had to honor their landlord by giving him a beautiful duck as a gift.

Fortunately, those hard times have ended, and the San Giovanni decollato festival is now renewed without the sacrifice of the “queen of the poultry yard.”