Ala’s Velvet Culture: Trentino Fest Extends to Lake Garda

There are those who define it as the first Veronese town in Trentino or the last Trentino locality in the Veronese. Ala is a borderland: it is land of Trento, but boasts a culture firmly rooted in the era of the Serenissima.

During the Venetian period, it was home to renowned velveters. It is precisely under the name of “Ala città di velluto” (“Ala City of Velvet”) that every year, late in the summer, this beautiful town in Vallagarina hosts a long cultural gastronomic festival.

The spread of the event and the Christmas program

Since last year, “Ala città di velluto” has extended into Veronese territory, to Dolcé. This time, it arrives also on the shores of Lake Garda, presenting itself for three days during Christmas among the olive trees of Garda.

Today, tomorrow, and Sunday, the Garda Christmas program offers “Natale con la città di velluto” (“Christmas with the City of Velvet”): there will be a market of Trentino products, choral singing, costume parades, folk shows, and traditional dishes to best introduce the “cousins” from the Adige valley.

Events of today and the schedule for the following days

Today at 11 a.m., the market exhibition of typical Trentino products opens, remaining open throughout the weekend. Also today, in the square, will be the ski instructors from San Valentino and Polsa, who will showcase the features of their snow-covered slopes and skiing techniques.

Tomorrow and Sunday, both at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., there will be double parades of the ancient velveters of Ala, with shows in front of the Losa, along the lakeside, and in the harbor square. Under the restaurant tent, throughout all three days, from 12 to 2:30 p.m., and again starting from 5 p.m., traditional Trentino dishes of the 1700s, the same prepared during “Ala città di velluto“, will be served, when the villas of the Trentino locality open to eager visitors.