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Saint Lucy in Lavarone, the night of the lanterns

In Trentino the presents come from Saint Lucy, not Santa Claus: on 12 December children walk the village with a lantern.

Bazzario · 2 min read · 11 November 2026

Around here the children’s presents do not come from Father Christmas. They come from Saint Lucy, with her donkey, on the night between 12 and 13 December. It is a living tradition, not a re-enactment: the letters get written, and the plate of hay for the donkey gets prepared.

In Lavarone she walks among the market huts at Bertoldi, and children follow with a lantern in hand. The same evening the other villages on the plateau hold their own lantern walks, each with its own time and meeting point.

Saint Lucy and her donkey walking through the village at night
Saint Lucy and the donkey, among the villagers. Photo: apt Alpe Cimbra archive

Where it takes place

Map of Bertoldi, where Saint Lucy walks, and of Bazzario
The dark marker is the venue, the light one is Bazzario. Map © OpenStreetMap

The Lavarone walk is at the Bertoldi Christmas market, 1.6 km from Bazzario. Folgaria, Serrada, Carbonare and Lusérn walk through their own streets.

Frequently asked questions

What time does she come through?

The times for this year are in the box above: they change from village to village, between late afternoon and evening.

What do children bring?

A lantern, and at home a plate for the donkey. There is hot chocolate waiting in the squares.

An evening worth the trip. Staying in Lavarone means ending the night in the warm, minutes from the lanterns.

See the rooms

The calendar

What happens, and when

The marked days have something on: tap one to read it.

December 2026

M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

January 2027

M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Running throughout

  • Lavarone Christmas Market · 28 November–6 January
  • Bosentino craft Christmas market · 5–13 December

What is coming up

  1. Lavarone Christmas Market

    11:00 · Frazione Bertoldi veci · Lavarone

    The old hamlet of Bertoldi turns into an open-air nativity scene, with local crafts, Trentino food and mountain cooking. Open on Advent weekends, then daily from 26 December to 6 January, 11am to 7pm.

    Read more

  2. Bosentino craft Christmas market

    10:00 · Palazzetto del Parco Alberato · Bosentino

    The Pro Loco craft market, in its 31st year: handmade pieces only, local producers and associations, all indoors. Free entry, 5 to 8 and 12 to 13 December.

  3. Bolkhént, the winter opening

    18:00 · Da Piazzetta Villa a Piazza San Lorenzo · Folgaria

    Winter opens with a parade through the centre of Folgaria, the lighting of the Christmas tree and mulled wine for everyone there.

  4. I Krampus ai Mercatini di Natale

    17:00 · Vie del centro · Folgaria

    The horned figures of Alpine folklore come through the centre of Folgaria, from 5 to 6pm.

    Read more

  5. Saint Lucy's night

    17:00 · Folgaria, Serrada, Carbonare, Lavarone e Lusérn

    The night children wait for all year: lantern walks and parades with Saint Lucy and her donkey across the plateau, between 5 and 6.30pm. In Lavarone she walks through the Christmas market at 6pm.

    Read more

  6. I Krampus ai Mercatini di Natale

    17:00 · Mercatini di Natale · Bosentino

    The Krampus come out again, among the stalls of the Bosentino market, from 5 to 6pm.

    Read more

  7. I Krampus ai Mercatini di Natale

    17:00 · Mercatino di Natale, Fraz. Bertoldi · Lavarone

    The Krampus reach the Bertoldi market: one hour, from 5 to 6pm, among the huts and the snow.

    Read more

  8. Lusérn gestarn un haüt: the village, then and now

    15:30 · Museo Lusérn · Luserna

    Costumed figures lead visitors through the museum, telling the crafts and the stories of the Cimbrian village.

  9. La Zéna Poréta, the poor supper by candlelight

    20:00 · Centro Congressi, Fraz. Gionghi · Lavarone

    The old poor supper by candlelight: mountain dishes and potato polenta made by the Confraternita della Pult, live music and a raffle at 10pm. Seats are limited, booking required.

    Read more

  10. New Year torchlight descents with the ski instructors

    18:00 · Bertoldi, Fondo Grande, Serrada e Costa

    Ski instructors come down the slopes at night carrying torches: 30 December and 4 January at Bertoldi, the 31st at Fondo Grande and Serrada, 1 January at Costa.

    Read more

  11. Moonlight snowshoe walk to the Segheria dei Mein

    20:30 · Ritrovo al campanile di San Sebastiano · Folgaria

    Three kilometres on snowshoes to the old sawmill, led by the ski school instructors; mulled wine and Trentino sweets at the end. Sign up online at least two days ahead.

    Read more

  12. New Year's Eve in Lavarone: Notti Magike

    23:00 · Piazza Italia · Lavarone

    New Year's Eve in the square at Lavarone, with Italian dance hits from the Eighties to the 2000s, singers and dancers.

    Read more

  13. New Year's Eve in Folgaria with Pippo Palmieri

    23:00 · Piazza Marconi · Folgaria

    In Folgaria's main square, Italian hits from the Eighties to the 2000s with radio host Pippo Palmieri, up to the midnight countdown.

  14. Vòlti d'inverno, the old cellars open up

    18:30 · Nosellari · Folgaria

    For one evening the old cellars and vaults of Nosellari open up: torches, live traditional music and dishes cooked by the village. Places are limited.

  15. Puppet show at the Lusérn Museum

    16:00 · Museo Lusérn · Luserna

    Truffaldino, the Befana's helper, hunts for the presents stolen by a mischievous dog: an hour of puppet theatre for children and the grown-ups with them.

  16. Befana day in the square

    17:00 · Piazza Marconi · Folgaria

    Live music, mulled wine and polenta in the square, with mascots for the children.

  17. Ciaspomagna Cimbra, snowshoes and food stops

    17:00 · Malga Millegrobbe

    A snowshoe walk through the Millegrobbe and Lusérn woods, with food stops at the malga and at Baita del Neff.

    Read more

  18. Prove Libere Tour, free ski test

    09:00 · Fondo Grande, pista Salizzona · Folgaria

    Free ski test on the Salizzona slope: 23 and 24 January open to everyone, 25 and 26 for the trade. From 9am to 2pm.

    Read more

  19. Ciaspomagna Cimbra, snowshoes and food stops

    17:00 · Malga Millegrobbe

    Second date of the snowshoe walk with food stops in the Millegrobbe and Lusérn woods.

    Read more

  20. Alpe Cimbra FIS Children Cup

    Loc. Fondo Grande · Folgaria

    More than eight hundred young ski racers from around the world: slalom and giant slalom at Fondo Grande, prize-giving on the 30th at 3.30pm in Folgaria.

    Read more

Events run by the local area, not by Bazzario: dates and times are those given by the organisers and may change.

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