Cassano Irpino Chestnut Festival

One of Italy's longest-running chestnut festivals

The Cassano Irpino Chestnut Festival is one of the most anticipated autumn events in Alta Irpinia. Every October, this small town in the province of Avellino, in Campania, dedicates two days to the fruit that has supported the economy, cuisine, and even the landscape of these woods for generations. In 2025, the event reached its 47th edition, a milestone that places it among the oldest Italian festivals dedicated to the chestnut and makes it a staple of the Irpinian autumn calendar.

The medieval village as a stage

There is no fairground or marquee: the festival unfolds along the historic center, among stone houses, arches, stairways, and small squares of the medieval core. Food stalls occupy the village streets, while performances move from one square to another, encouraging the public to explore the town on foot. It is a formula that gives the festival an authentic community feel, far removed from mass-produced events.

Chestnuts on the table

The local chestnut is the true star, celebrated in all its forms. At the stalls and kitchens set up by volunteers, you will typically find:

• Roasted chestnuts prepared on-site, cooked over an open fire;
• Soups and first courses from the Irpinian peasant tradition based on chestnuts;
• Artisanal desserts and seasonal specialties, from cookies to creams;
• Liqueurs and spirits made from the fruit;
• Fresh and dried chestnuts to buy and take home;
• Irpinian wines, cured meats, and cheeses from local farmers and dairies.

Alongside the gastronomic products, there are also craft exhibitions, featuring traditional techniques that tell the story of mountain trades.

Folk music, folklore, and entertainment

The evening is dedicated to traditional music: folk groups, Campanian popular music ensembles, and dance performances engage the squares until late at night. In 2025, the village hosted, among others, the Bottari di Macerata Campania, the Tarantemicj, and Dissonanthica, as well as performances of the tarantella montemaranese, the ritual dance that characterizes the inland area of Irpinia. There is no shortage of DJ sets, entertainment for children, and roving performers accompanying visitors along the festival route.

The springs, the hidden treasure of Cassano

Cassano Irpino is best known for its springs, which feed the Apulian Aqueduct and constitute one of the most important water reserves in Southern Italy. During the festival, guided tours of the springs and walks through the village are organized: an opportunity to understand the deep bond between the town, the water, and the chestnut groves that cover the surrounding slopes within the Picentini Mountains district.

Why it's worth the trip

The Cassano Irpino Chestnut Festival is a great example of how a small mountain community can transform an agricultural product into a collective identity. Visitors will find affordable prices, home-style cooking, live music, and an autumn landscape in full foliage: in October, the chestnut groves of Alta Irpinia take on colors that alone justify the trip. The event is organized by the Municipality of Cassano Irpino with the contribution of the Pro Loco Forum Felix and numerous local volunteers.

When it takes place

The event traditionally falls in October: the Municipality historically points to the last Saturday of the month, but in recent years, dates have been moved to the first half of October (the 2025 edition was held on October 11th and 12th). It is therefore advisable to check the official dates on the Municipality's channels and the festival's Facebook page before traveling.