Chestnut and Undergrowth Products Festival

An autumn celebration in the heart of the Picentini Mountains

In Acerno, a small town in the province of Salerno perched at 727 meters above sea level in the heart of the Picentini Mountains, autumn has a distinct scent: that of roasted chestnuts wafting through the historic center's squares. Every year, on the second weekend of November, the Pro Loco Acerno — an association founded in 1971 — organizes the Chestnut and Undergrowth Products Festival, one of the longest-running food and wine events in inland Campania: in 2025, it reached its 48th edition, a testament to a continuity that few village events can claim.

The chestnut, a historical resource for the town

Here, the chestnut is not just a culinary pretext; for centuries, it was a cornerstone of the local economy, alongside sheep farming and livestock breeding. The chestnut groves surrounding the village have fed generations of Acerno residents and continue to mark the town's calendar, from the autumn harvest to processing. The festival stems from this deep bond and continues to celebrate a mountain identity rooted in the forest, water, and peasant labor.

Stalls, roasted chestnuts, and forest products

The heart of the event is the path of stalls set up between Piazza d'Aste, via Duomo, and Piazza V. Freda, where local producers and Pro Loco volunteers offer seasonal specialties. Common finds along the route include:

• roasted chestnuts cooked in large pans and distributed in the squares, paired with local wine;
• porcini mushrooms and truffles from the Picentini woods;
• traditional dishes and desserts prepared with chestnuts;
• honey and other typical mountain products;
• craft markets and displays of undergrowth products.

Bonfires, drummers, and folk groups

Beyond the gastronomy, the festival maintains a strong folkloric tradition. Recent editions have featured the lighting of bonfires in the late afternoon, performances by local folk groups such as the Paranza Madonna di Bagni, shows by the Trombonieri «Filangieri», evenings of folk music, and a competition for the largest chestnut in Acerno, awarded on the final evening. The program also includes guided walks through the village and demonstrations related to chestnut harvesting and truffle hunting.

Acerno, the city of a hundred waters

Visitors arriving for the festival find much more than a well-laid table. Acerno is known as the "city of a hundred waters": springs, streams, and fountains line the paths leading up to the woods of the Picentini Mountains Regional Park, one of the richest natural environments in Campania. The historic center, compact and easily explored on foot, preserves the Cathedral and the squares that become the stage for the event during the festival. It is a perfect opportunity for those looking to combine the festival with an autumn hike through chestnut and beech forests.

A community event

The Acerno Chestnut Festival remains a community-driven event, with affordable prices and a crowd that mixes locals, hikers, and visitors from the Sele Plain and the provincial capital. It is the classic model of a Campanian sagra: no spectacular artifice, just an entire village opening its squares and serving what its forest produces.

2026 Edition

Tradition dictates the event takes place on the second weekend of November, but as of the update of this entry, the Pro Loco Acerno has not yet released the official dates or program for the 2026 edition. It is advisable to check for updates on the association's channels before traveling.