Coltello in Festa (Knife Festival) is the event that, since 2002, celebrates the centuries-old manufacturing tradition of the City of Knives and the work of its craftsmen.
It is the brainchild of Oreste Frati, a local entrepreneur, aiming to combine Maniago’s distinctive production with the development of local tourism and the idea of conveying the countless everyday functions of sharp objects to the broadest public possible.
It is held on the first weekend in September.
The main focus of the event is the display of products, divided into two sections:
- Knife market fair: local producers set up a large exhibition in the city centre, where, besides buying their products, visitors can meet and learn about their forge-makers;
- Handcrafted Custom Knives exhibition: custom craftsmen from Italy and from abroad showcase their one-of-a-kind blades: unique pieces made from premium materials, forged, crafted and assembled by hand.
Custom handcrafted knives exhibition: custom craftsmen from Italy and from abroad showcase their one-of-a-kind blades: unique pieces made from premium materials, forged, crafted and assembled by hand.
In the city centre you may also see demonstrations of the different types of manufacturing processes, each specific to a certain product. Free shuttle buses take you from the museum to the production sites: several workshops open their doors and show how the blades so common and relevant to our daily lives are made.
Every year, the festival adds special thematic events and experiences linked to the use of blades. It all contributes to making this event unlike any other, and offers the chance to also discover the area of Maniago and its peculiarities.
