Bucatino Festival

The Casandrino Bucatino Festival

The Bucatino Festival is the most cherished gastronomic appointment in Casandrino, a small town in the province of Naples, Campania. For nearly thirty years, every September, the town gathers around a simple dish that defines its identity: bucatino al sugo, prepared by volunteers and served during long, festive evenings. Reaching its 27th edition in 2025, the festival is now a consolidated tradition in the calendar of popular events in the Neapolitan hinterland.

Bucatino, the star of the table

Bucatino is a long pasta shape with a hole in the center, particularly beloved in Central and Southern Italian cuisine. In Casandrino, it becomes the pretext to share the peasant tradition and the local pasta culture: bucatino al sugo, seasoned with tomato sauce, is the dish around which the entire event revolves. Alongside this signature dish, food stalls offer other specialties of Campanian cuisine, in a culinary journey designed for all ages.

Where and when

The festival takes place in the so-called pinetina (pine grove area), behind the Marconi Torricelli school complex, an outdoor space capable of welcoming families, groups of friends, and visitors from neighboring towns every evening. The stalls traditionally open in the evening, around 8:30 PM, continuing late into the night with music and entertainment. The event is usually held in the first half of September and spans three days.

An event by Pro Loco Casandrino

The organizational heart of the festival is the Pro Loco Casandrino, which celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in 2025 during the festival itself. The association involves dozens of volunteers in the preparation of the bucatini and the management of the entire area, transforming the event into a great moment of community gathering. The festival also represents an opportunity to promote the territory and local traditions of this corner of Campania.

Atmosphere and entertainment

Beyond the gastronomic aspect, the Bucatino Festival offers a rich program of live music, shows, and entertainment. The evenings have the typical atmosphere of a village fair: shared tables, lights, joy, and an intergenerational audience that returns to the center of Casandrino year after year. It is an event designed to be enjoyed as a family, with special attention given to welcoming children.

Casandrino and the area north of Naples

Casandrino is located on the plains north of the regional capital, in a densely populated area of the province of Naples. Over the years, the festival has become a reference point for residents of neighboring towns, who choose it for an evening of good food and celebration. Those visiting the area can combine the gastronomic stop with the discovery of the urban fabric and the popular Campanian traditions, of which bucatino al sugo is a small but authentic expression.