The Programme

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For the first time, the Fiere di Parma will be coordinating the festival that - from 10 to 19 September - will have the municipalities of the titled Parma Ham production area as protagonists.

The objectives of this thirteenth Festival are to internationalize it, to attract visitors coming from a wider catchment area and to “professionalize” the festivities, by involving operators of the sector that until now have not had the chance to visit the area of production when the ham factories “open their windows” to consumers.

The calendar of initiatives is very rich: appointments dictated by gastronomy, shows and culture. Mountain bike rides, trekking, dancing evenings in the castles of the Dukedom, golf course competitions, initiatives for children with a “bread and ham snack” and many other activities.

An important showcase for a quality Italian product with allied industries involving 164 producing companies, 5,000 pig farms and 3,000 employees for a total turnover of 1.7 billion euros.

As usual, the highlight event of the initiative will be Finestre Aperte (Open Windows): the ham factories will open their doors to the public and give visitors the chance to watch the production process and take part in free tastings. The producers will illustrate the production secrets of the pig legs that, due to a magical combination of climate, tradition and passion, become Parma Hams. An organized bus shuttle service will be available for tourists to take them to the companies taking part in the initiative.

Not to be missed is a visit to the Parma Ham and Salami Museum (Museo del Prosciutto e dei Salumi di Parma), set up inside the ancient Foro Boario of Langhirano, and also the Parma Ham tastings together with the best wines, planned for the whole area.

Numerous initiatives will animate the Parma hills with suppers in the villages, street theatre, stalls of local products, painting exhibitions and moments of humour.

The Festival will end with a great party in Parma on Friday 17, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 September with tasting stands set up in the main squares of the city (Piazza Garibaldi, Piazza della Steccata and via Garibaldi) and a market exhibition of the local products. Saturday 18, at 5 pm, one of the most looked-forward-to moments of this 13th Festival: the charity auction that will be held in the splendid surroundings of Portici del Grano in Garibaldi Square.

The lots will consist of a careful selection of very high quality hams, chosen by the Parma Ham Consortium's experts, so as to be able to represent the best of the sweet King of Hams.

“We are happy to welcome the numerous Parma Ham fans to Parma and reveal to consumers the production secrets of such a simple and natural product. Our ham – sold in over 60 countries around the world with a turnover of 1.7 billion euros – is one of the jewels in the crown of Made in Italy products and owes its success to the observance of traditions and to its typical complete genuineness. When our guests visit the factories they will see first-hand the absolute artisan nature of the production that takes place, today as it did two thousand years ago, using only two ingredients: the best Italian pork and a pinch of salt” said Paolo Tanara, president of the Parma Ham Consortium.

Download the programme

Click here for the list of the plants you can visit

Download information about the 10 Municipalities involved

You can also follow the Festival on facebook:
www.facebook.com/consorzio.prosciuttodiparma
and on the Parma Ham Consortium's youtube channel:
www.youtube.com/ProsciuttodiParmaDOP

For further information and to book a guided tour of the ham factories: freephone 800.165.300.