Arrosticino Festival

The signature festival of summer in Marina di San Vito

The Arrosticino Festival is one of the most beloved food and wine celebrations in San Vito Chietino, in the province of Chieti, in the heart of the Abruzzese Costa dei Trabocchi. Every summer, usually in August, the seaside village of Marina di San Vito celebrates the iconic dish of Abruzzo: the arrosticino, a skewer of mutton cooked over charcoal on the traditional fornacello grill. The event takes place in Largo Don Giuseppe Argentieri, the square in front of the Santa Maria del Porto Parish, just a stone's throw from the seafront.

The arrosticino, the rustic heart of Abruzzo

The absolute star of the event is, naturally, the arrosticino: small mutton skewers threaded by hand and grilled over the long embers of the fornacello, to be enjoyed strictly hot, one after another, holding them in your hand. Alongside the classic version, the stalls often offer typical variations such as liver and onion arrosticini, as well as homemade bread, traditional side dishes, local sweets, and the essential Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine. It is the perfect festival to taste the most genuine flavors of Abruzzese cuisine in a single evening.

Music, stalls, and village atmosphere

The Arrosticino Festival is not just about food: during the evenings, the square comes alive with food and wine stalls, live music, folk performances, and entertainment for all ages, in a convivial atmosphere that brings together residents and tourists vacationing on the coast. Organized by the municipal administration together with the Santa Maria del Porto Parish, the festival is part of the rich calendar of the San Vito summer, filled with parties, markets, and traditional events like the evocative Feast of the Madonna del Porto.

San Vito Chietino and the Costa dei Trabocchi

The festival is also an opportunity to discover San Vito Chietino, one of the most picturesque villages on the Chieti coast, famous for its trabocchi, the ancient wooden fishing machines reaching out over the sea that have made this coast famous. Between beaches, nature reserves, and the Via Verde cycle path built on the former railway line, summer in Marina di San Vito is made of sea by day and festivals by night: and the arrosticino feast is one of its most genuine and well-attended moments.

When it takes place

The festival is traditionally held in August, with evening events. In 2025, it took place from August 22nd to 24th, every evening from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM; in 2024, from August 16th to 18th. The dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced: it is best to follow the channels of the Municipality of San Vito Chietino and the Santa Maria del Porto Parish for updates.