The week of events dedicated to the life and future of the Alps begins in Morbegno, with meetings, evenings dedicated to mountaineering and tradition, conferences, and initiatives for families. A program that combines mountain sports, alpine culture, and new generations, among professions, businesses, and traditions.

Morbegno, December 11 – Until December 14, Morbegno becomes the beating heart of the Alps with the second edition of Morbegno Alps’ Festival, the great winter event dedicated to the mountains, their cultural identity, and sports. Four days of meetings, events, shows, and initiatives will animate the city, with a program designed to enhance the territory and engage mountain enthusiasts and visitors.

The Festival focuses on life in the high lands: from mountain-related professions to alpine enterprises, from the role of guides to alpine traditions, up to the stories of new generations who choose to stay and work at high altitudes.

The program

Thursday, December 11

The Festival opens with the meeting “Work for You”, dedicated to professional orientation in mountain areas: a focus on opportunities, skills, and perspectives for those who want to build their future in the mountains.

Following this, the parade of Olympic mascots together with local sports associations will serve as the official inauguration of the Festival, bringing the atmosphere of great sporting events to the beautiful historical center of Morbegno.

In the evening, at the Auditorium di Sant’Antonio, the program includes “Fitz Roy in winter – Tribute to Renato Casarotto”, an evening dedicated to great mountaineering and Patagonian ventures, presented by Luca Maspes and featuring climbers Marco Majori, Matteo Della Bordella, and Tommaso Lamantia.

Friday, December 12

The day begins with the conference Future4Alps, organized by the Società Economica Valtellinese, which features experts, administrators, and operators discussing key issues such as sustainable development, alpine communities, and new strategies for the mountains of the future.

In the evening, there will be a focus on those who live the mountains daily: the Festa delle Guide del Parco delle Orobie Valtellinesi which celebrates the role of guides as a source of safety, culture, and knowledge of the territory. During the evening, there will also be a round table discussion “Orobie, land of explorations and mountaineering adventures,” moderated by Ruggero Meles with interventions from Andrea Savonitto, Christian Candiotto, Angelo Libera, and Giacomo Rovida.

Saturday, December 13

The historic center and Palazzo Malacrida come to life thanks to the guided tours conducted by students from the Istituto Saraceno, who will tell a ground-level story about the historical and cultural heritage of Morbegno.

In the afternoon, the Book’s Festival will take place, a moment dedicated to travel and mountain publishing, during which the Lonely Planet guide “Alpi on the road” and the volume “Discovering the Alps” by Albano Marcarini will be presented.

At 5:30 PM, the exhibition “Snow and Identity: the White Century of Valtellina” will be inaugurated, an exhibition that tells how snow has shaped landscapes, economies, and alpine lifestyles. This initiative is realized in collaboration with the Museo dello Sci e della Montagna di Aprica.

The evening continues with the traditional descent of Santa Lucia from the bell tower, a highly anticipated event especially for families, followed by the screening of the docufilm “I cento giorni” directed by Carlo Limonta, which provides an inside look at the lives of local young cheesemakers, amidst pastures, work, and seasonality. An authentic tale that closely follows the work, relationships, and daily challenges of a family of alpine herders during the summer season in Valgerola.

Sunday, December 14

The guided tours will continue on the last day of the Festival, which will then see the parade of the 5th Alpine Regiment, accompanied by the fanfare and a convivial moment with vin brulé offered by the Gruppo Alpini.

To conclude, the evening “The Alpini Tell Their Stories” will give space to testimonies, memories, and music, to narrate the deep bond between Alpini, territory, and local communities.

Activities for the Little Ones

Throughout the duration of the Festival, great attention will be given to new generations. The little ones can experience the mountains in a fun and experiential way through the Spherical Cinema “The Polar Night”, the creative workshops organized by the Associazione 2020, and on Sunday the wood sculptures in Piazza Sant’Antonio, which will bring the atmosphere of the woods and valleys to the city.

A festival to tell the Alps of today

The goal of Alps’ Festival is to enhance traditions, culture, and the alpine territory, promoting authentic experiences for all ages while also offering a space for discussion on the present and future of the mountains: an important opportunity for the sports and sector press to depict the Alps as a living, inhabited, and changing place.

Morbegno Alps’ Festival is an initiative organized by the Comune di Morbegno, in collaboration with local and provincial partners and with the contribution of resources from Regione Lombardia.