Events in the Fassa Valley

Selleronda Ski Marathon 

One of the most famous international ski touring competitions was held for the 22^nd time this year. The Sellaronda Ski Marathon is exclusively for extreme skiers, who enter in two-person teams, crossing a total of 42 kilometres with a total descent of 2,700 metres along demanding courses around the Sella Massif. This competition of skiing and mountaineering challenges takes place at night along the ski carousel that links the four Dolomitic passes of Sella, Gardena, Campolongo, and Pordoi as well as the Ladin valleys of Gardena, Badia, Fassa and Livinallongo, and the villages of Canazei, Selva di Val Gardena, Corvara and Arabba. The athletes race with alpine skis with skins to help tackle the ascents, facing the technically challenging course with determination and technical ability, displaying their experience, training and ability to adapt to the ever-changing atmospheric conditions. On this occasion, the start and the finish location, which rotates among locations from year to year, will be Arabba. 

Carnival (January-February)

Carnival is the most iconic folk event in the culture of Val di Fassa —the beating heart of this small, close-knit Ladin world. The Carnival is an ancient tradition that is relived year after year with the “Maschèredes” or comical performances featuring the most well-known traditional characters that that take place in Penia. Here, the celebrations and evening performances begin with the Festival of Saint Sebastian (the patron saint of Penia) on 19 January. However, the Val di Fassa Carnival is a party first and foremost, giving participants a chance to dress up, have fun and let off steam before the solemnity of Lent. The locals love dressing up, putting on masks and traditional costumes and making fun of others. There are also the famous wooden masks, “faceres”, which are created by the valley’s sculptors. The Carnival spirit is embodied in the vibrant hues of the multi-coloured costumes of “Bufon” and “Laché”, and in the wooden masks portraying the beautiful and the ugly, the good and the evil. 

Marcialonga 

The Marcialonga di Fiemme e Fassa is an international cross-country ski race that takes place on the last Sunday in January. The 70 km track must covered using only classical technique, which makes Marcialonga one of the toughest races in the world. The majority of the 7,500 competitors come from the Scandinavian countries, in particular Norway, for a weekend-long festival of Nordic skiing.

La Sportiva Epic Ski Tour

From 12 to 15 January, the first ever La Sportiva Epic Ski Tour will take place: a sporting event dedicated both to great champions and to ski mountaineering enthusiasts. 

Three exciting ski-mountaineering races will take place from 12 to 15 January 2017 in Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa. Many events will be combined during this long weekend of sports. The race desk, the “village” with a special exhibition area and all associated activities will be located at Palafiemme in Cavalese (Val di Fiemme). 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN THE FASSA VALLEY ON THE VAL DI FASSA TOURIST BOARD WEBSITE (http://www.fassa.com/EN/Shows-and-events/)