All Saints' Festival

The All Saints' Festival in Omignano

During the All Saints' long weekend, when the Cilento hinterland glows with autumn colors, Omignano Paese opens its streets for the All Saints' Festival, an event organized by the Pro Loco Omignano. For three consecutive evenings, from October 31st to November 2nd, the village in the Municipality of Omignano, in the province of Salerno (Campania), transforms into a culinary journey winding through alleys, small squares, and local venues.

The 2025 edition marked the fourteenth year: a milestone that reflects the continuity of a festival created to celebrate traditional Cilento peasant cooking, which has become one of the most anticipated autumn events in the area. This is not a massive commercial event; it is a village festival in the most authentic sense, where Pro Loco volunteers cook and serve the food themselves.

The gastronomic trail: autumnal Cilento cuisine

The heart of the event is the menu, faithful to Cilento tradition and prepared using home-style recipes. The stands open at 7:30 PM and offer dishes that define the season:

• Laane e ciciari, handmade pasta with chickpeas, a symbol of Cilento peasant cuisine
• Cavatielli with Cilento-style ragù, also served with cervellata sauce
• Vruocculi e sauzicchia, sausage and broccoli sautéed in a pan
• Carne re puorco cù puparolesse, pork with dried peppers
• Suffritto, a staple of the local peasant tradition
• Anchovy zeppole, the most beloved savory fried treat of Cilento festivals
• Local desserts and vròle, roasted chestnuts, the undisputed queens of the season
• Local wine to accompany every dish

Roasted chestnuts are one of the reasons the festival is known beyond the local area: those from Monte Stella, the peak that dominates this part of Cilento, have always been one of the region's most iconic products.

Folk music and the warmth of the bonfire

The culinary experience is complemented by entertainment: live folk music, roving groups that animate the path between stands, and, above all, the large bonfire around which locals and visitors gather during the chilly late-October evenings. This detail speaks volumes about the spirit of the event: more than just a show, the festival is a gathering place for a small community that, on these nights, opens its doors to those arriving from neighboring towns.

Omignano, a village between hills and sea

Omignano is a small municipality of just over 1,600 inhabitants, nestled in the Cilento hills a few kilometers from the coast. The territory is divided between Omignano Paese, the historic core where the festival takes place, and Omignano Scalo, which developed along the railway. Its location makes it a convenient base for visiting Cilento out of season: Vallo della Lucania, Agropoli, Castellabate, and the Cilento coast are all easily reachable.

Visiting the festival also means discovering a side of Campania that is often overshadowed by the sea in summer: the Cilento hinterland, made of hillside villages, chestnut groves, olive orchards, and a cuisine that gave rise to the UNESCO-recognized Mediterranean diet.

When it takes place and how it works

The festival is traditionally tied to the All Saints' and All Souls' holidays: it takes place from October 31st to November 2nd, with stands opening at 7:30 PM. Entry to the trail is free, and you only pay for what you consume, with tastings served at tables set up in the town center. In case of rain, the organizers provide indoor spaces so the event can proceed as planned.

At the time of writing, the dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been announced by the Pro Loco Omignano: it is best to follow the association's social media channels in the weeks leading up to the All Saints' holiday to confirm dates and the program.