A trip to Bologna's Festa dell'Unità, from dance halls to restaurants, features vegan tiramisu on the menu.

Bologna, August 27, 2025 – The Festa dell'Unità opens its doors on Friday, August 29 (and runs until September 21), in the new location of Parco Cevenini at Via Biancolelli 41 , in the heart of the Borgo Panigale-Reno district. A new era, after 51 years in the historic and enormous Parco Nord venue, 'home' of the Democratic Party festival. The Democratic Party festival is back, with over 100 debates (expected: Elly Schlein, Stefano Bonaccini, Matteo Renzi, and Nicola Fratoianni, as well as Massimo D'Alema and Gianni Cuperlo, as well as Michele de Pascale and Matteo Lepore). But while the space will be reduced , without the large boulevards that Bolognese people have been accustomed to for half a century ( here is the video of the new spaces) , the restaurants run by Democratic Party volunteers (2,500 in force, like last year) remain practically unchanged.

Seven Democratic Party-run venues will be available (instead of eight like last year), while the private and ethnic food stands that were present during the Parco Nord festival will be missing. But for those looking for good food, despite all the politics, there will still be a good selection. Along the avenue of Parco Cevenini, you'll find the historic Alba restaurant serving Piedmontese cuisine, the Tuscan Antica Ricetta , the traditional Bertoldo (which this year features a tram mural on its facade), Cento Passi, the Montagna/Navile restaurant, and the historic Pesce Borgo , which this year will also have a branch, Borgo Veg, serving vegan cuisine. The only absentee is 'Gallo Rosso', the other Bolognese restaurant that was present last year at Parco Nord.

The entrance to the Festa dell'Unità at Cevenini Park at Via Biancolelli 41.

But what will the volunteer-run restaurants offer? Starting with the historic Bertoldo, there will be tagliatelle with ragù and tortellini in broth. But also lasagna, gramigna with sausage, and onion soup. Among the dishes, the crowning glory is the cotoletta alla bolognese, plus plenty of polenta with various sauces. Of course, among the side dishes, friggione (fried fish).

At the Festival's flagship restaurant, Alba, the menu ranges from a trio of truffle-filled first courses to truffle risotto, as well as braised beef in Barolo wine, fried porcini mushrooms, guinea fowl, and beef tenderloin. To finish, try bonet (a kind of sweet dessert) or Alba nougat semifreddo.

At Pesce Borgo, like every year, you can choose from seafood-flavored paccheri and seafood spaghetti; calamarata and octopus; prawns and skewers. From the sea, move on to Montagna/Navile, where you can enjoy tagliatelle with mountain ragù , mushroom garganelli, and a mountain cutlet that 'challenges' Bertoldo's Bolognese counterpart. At Cevenini Park, you'll find Sicilian cuisine from Cento Passi, including arancini, pasta alla norma , and eggplant caponata. For lovers of Tuscan cuisine, Antica Ricetta doesn't disappoint, with its pappardelle with wild boar, Tuscan-style tripe, rosticciana, and beans all'Uccelletto.

But there's a new addition to this temple of tortellini and ragù: a vegan restaurant. "Borgo Veg" offers, among other dishes, crescentine, fava bean purée, chickpea farinata, and quinoa burgers. For dessert? Vegan tiramisu.

But alongside the food, another ingredient cannot be missing: entertainment . There will be no Ferris wheels or the usual amusement park . Taking center stage, as in the best traditions of the original Feste dell'Unità, will be the dance hall . And here, the program will range from smooth dance (September 1, 2, 4, 7, 16, and 17) to cabaret with the Drag Queen show (September 3, 10, and 15 at 9:30 pm) and Duilio Pizzocchi , on Sunday, September 21 at 9:30 pm. As for the concerts, they open on Friday, August 29, with Andrea Mingardi at 9:30 pm, followed by several other events. From the tribute to Lucio Dalla on Sunday, August 30, to Anthera on September 6. Then it will be the turn of Ze Tafans (Thursday, September 11 at 9:30 pm) and Radio '80 on Friday, September 12, also at 9:30 pm. Last event, Gem Boy covers on Friday 19th September.