and why I’ll never put up banner ads...

Until the end of September, every Friday I used to send the subscribers to the WhatsApp list an outline of events in Valtellina and Valchiavenna. 

Title after title, with the relevant link to open.

And from the title alone, more often than not, you couldn’t make head or tails of anything. Is it a local fair? A concert? Is it suitable for kids?

When I added a line of explanation for every single event, the list just went on and on. 

A message so long that some people read it, while others just scrolled past it quickly.

And some people didn’t open it at all.

Then there were those who didn’t even receive it. WhatsApp lists have their limits: if you haven’t saved my number in your contacts, the message won’t reach you. And more than once someone has written to me, “Nothing came through this time”.

There were also people who did receive the list, and still phoned me anyway: “Edi, what events are on?”

That’s when I asked myself a question. So then does the WhatsApp list even work?

The CalVal Club is my answer.

Every week I make all the events in Valtellina and Valchiavenna filter through. I pick fifteen, from Saturday to Friday, and for each one I tell you why it’s worth going. You can find them updated every Friday from 7:00 pm in your members’ area on the site, and you’ll also get an email reminder.

What the CalVal Club is and why I created it

I’m the kind of person who always sticks her nose in. I look at what works and what doesn’t, and when something doesn’t, I change it.

So I decided to take it up a notch. Instead of a list, something nicer to look at, and easier to browse—plus you can dig into it straight away.

And while I was at it, I even included what you usually miss out on. The most useful or interesting blog articles, hand-picked by me.

And above all original content you won’t find anywhere else on the site.

Calendario Valtellinese opened in 2011. Since then it’s always been free, and without any advertising banners: I’ve always refused them, and I’ll keep doing so. (There’s also someone who thinks it’s down to the local authority. No. It’s me. I even pay for the tisane myself.)

What you get in the Club

• 15 events from Saturday to Friday, picked by me. For each one I’ll tell you what it is, who it’s for, and why I’d go.
• First what you’ll like. When you sign up choose the categories (music, local fairs, kids, culture...) and at the top you’ll find the events that are right for you. Everything else stays below.
• Clearly readable flyers. The ones packed with microscopic text—I'll sort those out.
• From time to time: useful information, recipes, stories from the local area, little curiosities, blog articles you might have missed, and content I don’t post anywhere else.
• And soon, vouchers from partner businesses, reserved for subscribers. With a few vouchers across the year, the subscription basically pays for itself.

No pop-ups to close.

👉 Find out how to join the CalVal Club

The site stays free

Calendario Valtellinese doesn’t change. The site, events and channels remain free for everyone, as always.

And without an advertising banner. Which is a big deal these days.

The Club is an extra thing—and it’s paid: an annual subscription that costs about the same as a pizza, a beer and a dessert. Once a year.

It’s for people who can’t be bothered to look around and would rather someone picks things for them. 

Someone who actually lives in Valtellina, and really does go to the events. (Not everyone, because I don’t have the gift of being everywhere.)

You can find the price and a free trial here.

And if someone phones me again asking what events are on?

Now I know what to say.

👉 Sign up to the CalVal Club