In the past, veillà were get-together arranged in the small Aosta Valley communities during the long winter nights. In summer, in the streets of the village of Cogne, modern-day veillà revive ancient professions once exercised at these long winter get-togethers.

These open-air representations of local life include: crafts (wooden sculptures and tools, pillow lace-work by experienced laceworkers and wrought iron), wool spinning, wheat threshing, milk processing, as well as the display of agricultural equipment.

At the veillà of Cogne, it is also possible to taste (upon payment) traditional culinary products, including Cogne cream, meculin and fiocca (a type of panettone with whipped cream), polenta grassa (rich "polenta", with butter and fontina cheese), mocetta (a kind of cured meat) and black bread.

During the veillà of Cogne there are also folkloristic and choral shows.