Cavatielli Festival

An evening dedicated to cavatielli

In Castelfranci, a village in the Alta Valle del Calore in the province of Avellino, Campania, the Cavatielli Festival is one of the most beloved highlights of the Irpinian summer. It is not an event defined by massive crowds or imposing stages: it is a genuine village evening, with long tables set up outdoors, the scent of sauce wafting from large pots, and folk music starting as soon as the plates begin circulating among the guests.

The 2025 edition, the thirty-first, took place on Thursday, August 7th, starting at 8:30 PM in Piazza Municipio, in the heart of the town. This setup has been repeated for over thirty years, making the festival a staple of the Castelfranci August calendar, a time when the town comes back to life, partly thanks to the return of those who have emigrated.

The signature dish: Irpinian cavatielli

Cavatielli are a type of handmade fresh pasta, made from a simple dough of durum wheat semolina and water: it is cut into small pieces and then "hollowed out" (cavati) with the fingertips or a knife blade, creating the indentation that gives the pasta its name. It is precisely this cavity that makes them perfect for thick sauces, as each piece holds the seasoning instead of letting it settle at the bottom of the plate.

In Irpinia, cavatielli are more than just a home recipe: they are listed among the Traditional Agri-food Products (P.A.T.) recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture, a status that certifies their deep historical roots in the territory. Every family keeps its own version and shape—longer, shorter, more curled—and the festival is the occasion where all these domestic variations become a collective dish, prepared according to ancient local recipes.

• Dough made only of semolina and water, no eggs
• Entirely handmade, piece by piece
• Traditional seasonings: fresh tomato sauce or meat ragù
• P.A.T. recognition as a typical Campanian product

Folk music and dancing in the square

The culinary aspect is only half the evening: the other half is the music. In 2025, the festival was accompanied by the Piccimondo folk group, which brought the rhythms and dances of the Campanian tradition to the square, with the tarantella drawing both young and old to the front of the stands. It is the classic formula of an Irpinian festival: you eat while seated, then you get up and dance, with no tickets required and no stages separating the performers from the audience.

Castelfranci, between vineyards and peasant cuisine

The Municipality of Castelfranci has just over a thousand inhabitants and is located in the wine-growing area of Alta Irpinia, a land of Aglianico and family-run wineries; the town is a member of the national "Città del Vino" (City of Wine) association. This context perfectly explains the festival: here, the cuisine is still based on local produce—grain, tomatoes, pork, and homemade wine. It is no coincidence that the local summer calendar also hosts other events linked to handmade pasta and wine, such as "Le Notti della Maccaronara," which share the same spirit as the Cavatielli Festival: few ingredients, strong community.

Who organizes the festival

The event is managed by the Misericordia of Castelfranci, a volunteer association rooted in the town that mobilizes dozens of volunteers every year for pasta preparation, stand management, and setting up the square. It is an entirely local, non-professional organization, which explains both the family-like character of the event and the fact that the program is usually announced on short notice through the association's social media channels and the Irpinian press.

How the evening unfolds

The structure, repeated across various editions, is simple: opening of the food stands in the evening, distribution of freshly seasoned cavatielli, outdoor tables, and live music until late at night. Entry to the festival area is free, and you only pay for what you consume. Over the years, the event has changed locations within the town several times—from the Via Venezia area to the central Piazza Municipio—but has always remained in open, pedestrian-friendly spaces.

2026 Edition

At the time of writing, the date for the 2026 edition has not yet been made public. Based on previous years, the event is expected in August, but until the Misericordia of Castelfranci releases the official poster, it is advisable to check the day and time before traveling.