The Assumption of Mary is a solemnity celebrated on 15 August by the Christian churches. In the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church it is a precept festival, recognized in many countries as a non-working day and as a holiday. In Vernante the Assumption is the most important festival on the calendar and takes place on 14, 15 and 16 August.
The festival begins on the eve of Ferragosto (mid-august) around 9.00 pm with the procession of the Madonna carried from the Sanctuary of the Madonnina della Valle to the parish church, accompanied by fireworks and bonfires. At the same time, the mountain meadows and ridges on the town of Vernante are illuminated by large bonfires and rural writings; the evening ends with a great fireworks show that every year attracts visitors from all over the province.
The festivities continue at Ferragosto when the statue returns to the Sanctuary, always in a procession, crossing the village and ending the last day with the Class Reunions with songs and dances. Fulcrum and symbol of the festival is the throne of the Virgin Mary of the late 1600s, an example of Piedmontese Baroque: the Madonna, covered with a handwoven silver mantle, is made of wood, weighing over 640 kg. According to tradition, the throne of the Assumption was carried on the shoulders from Turin, the place where it was manufactured, to Vernante in about 40 days of travel. The bearers were the Landra coming from the Vallone Secco (side valley compared to Valle Grande di Palanfrè). Even today the descendants of this family still carry the throne on their shoulders during the two processions.