The fourth edition of the Ulassai Festival, taking place from May 31st to June 2nd, will feature a thrilling schedule of sporting activities and side events. Renowned climbers such as Alessandro Zeni and Klaas Willems among our special guests..
Ulassai, 8th April 2024
Sardinia is gearing up to host the fourth edition of the Ulassai Festival, the highly anticipated climbing and outdoor sports event scheduled from May 31st to June 2nd, 2024 in Ulassai, Province of Nuoro.
Climbing, slacklining, mountain biking, trekking, art, cinema, and gastronomy are among the many activities featured during this weekend dedicated to sports and culture, set amidst a unique natural and scenic landscape.
The program
Friday, 31th May
The event kicks off with the official inauguration, welcoming numerous enthusiasts from across Europe. The opening ceremony, scheduled around 6:00 PM, will be attended by Luigi Deidda, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Ulassai, and top climber Alessandro Zeni. The climber will also be one of the distinguished guests of this event and will participate in the presentation of "Eternit", the documentary in which he plays a leading role.
The film chronicles the achievements of the Trentino athlete, who completed one of the most challenging slab climbs in the world.
Saturday, 1st June
Over the weekend, we will delve into the heart of the event with a wide range of outdoor activities. Beyond climbing, the true highlight of the festival, participants will have the opportunity to experience walking along an incredible highline positioned at an impressive 150 meters in height and spanning 500 meters in length. But that's not all, as there will also be opportunities to engage in yoga and parkour sessions, and a series of guided mountain biking and trekking tours.
Enhancing the program, thanks to a collaboration with Slow Food, there will be a market featuring local products, in addition to workshops and show-cooking events.
At the end of the day, the focus will shift to a combination of food and cinema, featuring a traditional dinner paired with a series of short films related to the climbing world. The evening will then culminate with the screening of "Still Alive", the docufilm centered around the life of Klaas Willems.
The film tells the story of the Belgian climber - who has been living with cystic fibrosis since childhood - and his unconditional love for climbing. As a longtime resident of the Sardinian municipality nestled in the heart of the Blue Zone, the climber will introduce the film and the following day will also host an experiential workshop. This will be followed by a DJ set in Piazza Barigau that will keep attendees entertained until the late hours of the night.
Sunday, 2st June
The morning of Sunday, June 2, will continue with outdoor sporting activities followed by their respective awards ceremonies.
On the same day, a highlight event will be the opening of the Contemporary Art Biennale dedicated to Maria Lai, the renowned artist from Ulassai who passed away in 2013.
The exhibition, curated by Gianni Murtas, will showcase works by 23 emerging artists and will officially conclude the event.
The Ulassai Festival 2024, promoted by the municipal administration of Ulassai (NU), is organized by the communication agency Mate and is part of the project "ULASSAI: where nature meets art", funded by the European Union, as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
All initiatives will be carried out in collaboration with various local sports organizations and associations related to climbing and outdoor activities present in Ulassai.
Ulassai Festival press contacts:
- Mate Press Office – press@mateagency.it
- Eugenio Bertone – eugenio.bertone@mateagency.it – 339.1873668
- Federico Defrancisco – federico.defrancisco@mateagency.it – 340.4298788
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