Parmigiano Reggiano Festival and ToscanaFest

For one weekend this October, the makers of the most celebrated cheese in the world are bringing Italy to New Hampshire. The Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano, the organization that oversees every wheel of authentic Parmigiano Reggiano produced, will host the Parmigiano Reggiano Festival at Tuscan Village on Saturday, October 10, followed by ToscanaFest on Sunday, October 11.

Parmigiano Reggiano is one of the most protected food products on earth. By law it can only be made in a small region of Northern Italy, using a method that has gone essentially unchanged for nearly a thousand years, and every wheel is aged a minimum of 12 months before it can carry the name. Its arrival at Tuscan Village, in full, with whole wheels, its own representatives, and its official traditions on display, is a rare opportunity for New England to experience the real thing at its source.

On Saturday from 12 to 8 PM, whole wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano will be cracked open in the streets of the Village in the traditional style, with the Consorzio’s team on hand to guide guests through the cheese, its history, and how it is made. Buitoni, the Italian pasta maker founded in Sansepolcro, Tuscany in 1827, joins the festival both days, serving hot five cheese ravioli tossed inside a Parmigiano wheel and selling its products along the festival route.

Guests can take a gondola ride through the Village and end Saturday at Lake Park with a Frank Sinatra tribute band. The Cooking School inside Tuscan Market will run free Parmigiano Reggiano cooking demonstrations all day both days, while Tuscan Brands Wine Director Joe Comforti leads wine samplings with visiting vendors, pairing Italian wines with the cheese.

Sunday brings ToscanaFest, Tuscan Village’s annual celebration of Italian heritage, with more than 30 artisans and vendors lining the streets, Italian tribute bands playing all day at Lake Park, and Parmigiano samplings continuing throughout the Village.

Order the Dish, Win a Trip to Italy
Tuscan Market and Tuscan Kitchen will each serve a special dish created with the Parmigiano for the weekend. Every guest who orders the featured dish is entered to win a trip to Italy.

Event Details

• What: Parmigiano Reggiano Festival and ToscanaFest
• When: Satuday, October 10, 12 to 8 PM; Sunday, October 11, all day
• Where: Tuscan Village, 9 Via Toscana, Salem, NH 03079
• Cost: Free to attend
• Follow: @tuscanbrands on Instagram and Facebook