Agriculture Festival

A festival that tells the story of Irpinia's rural soul

The Agriculture Festival takes place in Guardia Lombardi, a town in the Province of Avellino, Campania, nestled over nine hundred meters above sea level in the Alta Irpinia hills. Here, the land has never been just a backdrop: grain, forage, vineyards, olive groves, and livestock have defined the lives of local families for centuries. The event, held in the San Pietro area between late August and early September, was created to restore dignity and visibility to this heritage, blending the memory of field labor with a forward-looking vision for agriculture.

The tractor parade, the heart of the event

The most anticipated moment is undoubtedly the tractor parade through the town streets. The 2025 edition featured approximately three hundred agricultural vehicles, ranging from small vintage crawlers to the latest high-tech tractors, welcomed by thousands of spectators along the route. The parade is preceded by an open-air mass and the blessing of the farm machinery, a ritual that unites the religious dimension with the world of work and remains one of the most cherished traditions for the local community.

Local produce, stalls, and the flavors of Alta Irpinia

Dozens of exhibitors specializing in local food, wine, and crafts line the festival area. In 2025, there were over thirty stalls, showcasing the productive richness of the territory:

• Wines from Irpinia, a land of great denominations;
• Cheeses and locally produced dairy;
• Extra virgin olive oils and preserves;
• Cured meats and sausages from the peasant tradition;
• Bread, fresh pasta, and traditional sweets;
• Crafts and tools of rural culture.

The food stalls and kitchens remain active until the evening, when the festival shifts to a musical focus.

Conferences, young farmers, and rural development

The Agriculture Festival is more than just folklore. Each year, the program includes conferences and public debates with experts, agricultural entrepreneurs, and institutional representatives, focusing on new opportunities in the sector, sustainability, and the development of inland areas. A recurring theme is the role of young farmers, who participate in large numbers in Guardia Lombardi: as noted by Giuseppe Salvatore, president of the organizing association, the festival serves to show that Irpinian roots can still be a resource rather than just a memory.

Music, traditional games, and families

The program of past editions has alternated between various activities throughout the day: inflatables and entertainment for children, aperitifs with DJ sets in the late afternoon, folk music and folk groups in the evening, horse exhibitions, vintage car shows, cooking demonstrations, and traditional games with team challenges. It is a festival designed for families, where the public mingles with exhibitors and farmers in a great town-gathering atmosphere.

Organization and context

The event is promoted by the Associazione Longobarda 4.0 APS, a youth organization from Guardia Lombardi, with the involvement of the Municipality and local associations. In just a few years, the festival has grown to become one of the most popular late-summer events in Alta Irpinia: in 2025, there were approximately eight thousand attendees, with visitors arriving from across the Province of Avellino and neighboring provinces. For those visiting inland Campania, it is a rare opportunity to see an authentic agricultural territory up close, far from the most beaten tourist paths.