Cavatelli with Sausage Festival

A mid-August tradition since 1985

The Cavatelli with Sausage Festival is the signature gastronomic event of Tufillo, a village of a few hundred inhabitants perched in the hills of the Alto Vastese, in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo. Born in 1985 as a simple mid-August dinner among friends, the event has grown year after year to become a fixed appointment of the Abruzzo summer, attracting thousands of visitors from neighboring towns and the Vasto coast.

The festival is traditionally held every August 11th in Piazza Fuori Porta, the beating heart of Tufillo's community life. After a few interruptions due to the pandemic, the event has restarted with renewed enthusiasm, confirming itself as one of the most cherished moments of the year for the entire community.

The star dish: handmade cavatelli

At the center of the celebration are the cavatelli, a pasta typical of Tufillo cuisine made only with durum wheat semolina and water, worked and hollowed by hand according to a recipe passed down from generation to generation. In the days leading up to the festival, Pro Loco volunteers dedicate themselves to the long preparation of the pasta, which is then dressed with a rich tomato and sausage sauce produced locally.

Alongside the classic version, there are lighter options and vegetarian alternatives, as well as other traditional Abruzzo peasant dishes and typical desserts. The food stands open in the evening, and the long tables set up in the square allow guests to enjoy the cavatelli in a convivial and authentic atmosphere.

Music, dance, and conviviality

The Cavatelli Festival is not just about food: the evening continues with live music, folk groups, traditional songs, and DJ sets that liven up the square until late at night. Dancing under the stars, local crafts, and the meeting of generations make this festival an authentic celebration of the identity of the Municipality of Tufillo and its rural roots.

An authentic village in the Abruzzo hinterland

Attending the festival is also an opportunity to discover Tufillo, a village nestled in the green hills that slope down towards the Trigno river, on the border between Abruzzo and Molise. The event, organized by the Pro Loco Tufillo APS with the patronage of the Municipality, represents a perfect example of how small communities in inland Abruzzo preserve and promote their food and wine heritage and popular traditions.