It is the last weekend of September, and the Belluno Dolomites are closing the season in every possible way. In the Biois valley the herds really do come down from the summer pastures and Falcade welcomes them with three days of celebrations. In Cortina people run between the Tofane and the Cinque Torri and then eat under the marquee at Pocol. In Belluno, for the first time, robots compete at the VHV Arena. In the Valbelluna you walk in silence to hear the red deer roar, on Saturday night Torbe speaks Bavarian, and on Sunday morning the Alpago runs towards the equinox.
If you only have one day
Saturday 26: early morning in Falcade for the parade of the herds at Se Desmonteghea, then in the evening to Torbe di Sospirolo for the OktTorbeFest, from 6 pm.
Sunday 27: in the morning, the Park’s walk between Peròn and Salét to hear the red deer rut (booking required); in the afternoon, the last day of the festival in the Biois valley.
The weekend day by day
Friday 25 September
- Falcade — Se Desmonteghea opens, until Sunday · traditions
- Cortina, Pocol — opening of the Delicious Festival Dolomiti · food and sport
- Belluno, VHV Arena — Robotech, round tables from 2 pm · innovation
- Castion, 6.30 pm — Waiting for the 24 Ore di San Martino · sport stories
Saturday 26 September
- Falcade, morning — the parade of the herds · traditions
- Cortina, Pocol — the Delicious Trail races and the PalaDelicious, open to all from 10 am · sport and flavours
- Belluno, VHV Arena — demonstrations and robot competition · innovation
- Torbe di Sospirolo, from 6 pm — OktTorbeFest · festival
Sunday 27 September
- Tambre, Col Indes, 8.45 am — 9th Transcavallo Equinox Run · trail running
- Peròn di Sedico, 9 am — “L’arca meravigliosa”, a walk with the Park · nature
- Falcade — last day of Se Desmonteghea · traditions
🐄 Traditions: Se Desmonteghea, the Biois valley herds come down to Falcade
Se Desmonteghea is not a re-enactment: the herds really do return from the summer pastures and the village welcomes them. It is perhaps the most colourful of the Agordo area’s transhumance festivals, and the moment not to miss is Saturday morning’s parade, when decorated animals and carts pass through the old centre together with the farmers.
The festival then moves to the Piana di Falcade, the great meadow in the middle of the village: a fair of local products, craft stalls, food stands, the marquee, bands and folk groups from the Agordo valleys, activities for children. It is organised by the Gruppo Folk Union Ladina Val Biois and admission is free. Only one practical tip: for the parade, be in the village early.
🏃 Sport and mountains: the Delicious in Cortina and the Transcavallo in the Alpago
In Cortina the Delicious Festival Dolomiti brings together two things that have always gone well together in the mountains: effort and good food. On Friday 25 the PalaDelicious opens at Pocol with dishes by the Chef Team Cortina; Saturday 26 is race day, with the tenth Delicious Trail, the Short (about 23 km and 1,300 metres of ascent, starting at 10.15 am from Pocol) and the Medium, which starts at 9 am from La Villa in Alta Badia. The marquee is open to everyone from 10 am: if you are not racing, you can spend the day tasting what the local restaurants and mountain huts prepare, and stay on for the evening party.
Event page: Delicious Festival Dolomiti →
On Sunday morning it is the Alpago’s turn. The 9th Transcavallo Equinox Run is the summer sister of the historic Transcavallo ski-mountaineering race: about 21.6 kilometres and 1,900 metres of ascent, start and finish at the Col Indes car park, 1,161 metres above Tambre, at 8.45 am. It is a real race that requires mountain experience: a valid sports medical certificate is compulsory. For supporters, Col Indes is a fine place to wait, with the Cansiglio in front of you.
Event page: Transcavallo Equinox Run →
🦌 Nature: the red deer rut between Peròn and Salét
On late September mornings the Cordevole valley floor changes its voice. The Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park takes those who want to listen along a recently restored path that follows the river to the meadows of Salét, where the Forestry Corps’ horses graze. With a little patience and silence you hear the stags, and sometimes you see them.
Meeting point: Sunday 27 at 9 am at the car park of the “La buona tavola” pizzeria in Peròn di Sedico. Medium-easy, minimal height gain, about four hours, maximum twenty people, free of charge. Booking is compulsory: +39 329 0040808.
Event page: L’arca meravigliosa →
🍺 Festivals and flavours: a Bavarian evening in Torbe
The Gruppo Ricreativo Torbe, founded in 1982, opens its autumn festivities with the OktTorbeFest, a week before the Sagra di Santa Teresa. On Saturday 26 things start at 6 pm with an aperitif, at 7 pm the kitchens open with a Bavarian menu — pork knuckle, würstel, sauerkraut, canederli dumplings, spätzle and chicken — and at 10 pm the German party with live music by “Italia90 by Riflesso”. Torbe is a hamlet of Sospirolo, on the road to the Val del Mis.
🎭 Culture and mountain stories: half a century of the 24 Ore in Castion
The 24 Ore di San Martino was born in Castion in 1974 and has remained both a relay race and a village festival ever since. On Friday 25 at 6.30 pm the Teatro San Gaetano tells its story in an evening hosted by Luca “Cranner” Sovilla and Michele “Mitch” Pellegrini: on stage, the founders, the first relay runners of 1974 and today’s athletes. More than a commemoration, a way to understand how a race can hold a community together for fifty years.
Event page: Waiting for the 24 Ore di San Martino →
🤖 Innovative Dolomites: Robotech at the VHV Arena
At its first edition, Robotech brings businesses, students, start-ups and institutions to Belluno to talk about robotics, artificial intelligence and automation. It was created by the Young Entrepreneurs of Confindustria Belluno Dolomiti from an idea by the start-up Dolobot. On Friday afternoon, from 2 pm, stands, networking and three round tables; on Saturday the teams test their robots in the morning and compete in the official contest in the afternoon, followed by the awards. Entry is open to the public with registration on the official website.
Read also
Accessible Dolomites: what is really verified — Val Canzoi, the La Santina centre, the Rizzarda gallery, the Val del Mis botanical garden and transport, after “Un Mondo che si Muove” passed through the Feltre area.
All events in the Belluno Dolomites
These are the events for the weekend that we have verified at the source. The calendar changes from day to day: always check the event page before setting off.
