Chestnut Festival

An autumn celebration in the heart of the Vallo di Lauro

When the first mists descend upon the mountains surrounding the Vallo di Lauro, Moschiano prepares for its most cherished event. The Chestnut Festival is the highlight of autumn in this small town in the province of Avellino, Campania, drawing families, foodies, and fans of rustic cuisine to Piazza IV Novembre for over forty years. This is no artificial tourist trap; it is born from the hard work of local chestnut growers and the dedication of the Pro Loco volunteers, preserving the slow, warm pace of traditional village festivals.

The Marrone di Santa Cristina, the undisputed star

The heart of the festival is the Marrone di Santa Cristina, a chestnut variety grown in the surrounding groves that has long been a vital economic resource for the area. In 1980, the Michele Caputo Pro Loco organized the first edition of the festival, with the support of local parishes and the municipality, specifically to raise awareness of this product, encourage modern cultivation techniques, and boost the local economy.

At the stalls, you can taste the chestnut in all its forms: roasted over embers, boiled, or transformed into desserts and creams, alongside traditional rustic dishes that pair the fruit with other local forest and countryside products.

• Roasted chestnuts and fresh local produce
• Porcini mushrooms and forest delicacies
• Traditional Vallo di Lauro rustic cuisine
• Local wines and chestnut-based desserts

The twenty-meter-long castagnaccio

The image that best captures the festival is the twenty-meter-long castagnaccio, prepared by volunteers and served to the public during the event. It is more than just a fun photo opportunity; it is a collective gesture that embodies the spirit of the festival: sharing the fruits of a season of labor in the chestnut groves. Over the years, it has become the most anticipated and crowded moment of the two-day event.

Folk music, street performers, and markets

Surrounding the food stalls is an entertainment program featuring Campanian folk music and street arts. Folk groups, tammurriata dancers, and roving performers bring the historic center to life, while a craft market showcases local artisanal work. Recent editions have also included attractions for children, such as face painting and inflatables, making the festival a perfect outing for the whole family.

Excursions to the chestnut groves with a free shuttle

One element that distinguishes the Moschiano Chestnut Festival from many other autumn events is the opportunity to venture out of the village and reach the very places where the chestnuts grow. The organizers offer guided walks through the chestnut groves, with a free shuttle service from the center, to discover the woods climbing the slopes of the Partenio and Vallo mountains. It is a chance to understand the deep bond between the community and its landscape.

A tradition since 1980

The first Chestnut Festival took place on October 25–26, 1980, as one of the first official initiatives of the Michele Caputo Pro Loco. Since then, the event has never stopped, growing year after year: the 38th edition was held in 2022, the 39th in 2023, the 40th in 2024, and the 41st on October 25–26, 2025. Today, the organization is a joint effort between the Pro Loco Michele Caputo, Pro Loco M. Felix, and Pro Moschiano, with the patronage of the Municipality of Moschiano.

When and where

The festival is traditionally held on a weekend in October (sometimes shifting to November) in Piazza IV Novembre, in front of the Town Hall, with evening openings on Saturday and lunch service on Sunday. Admission to the festival area is free; you only pay for what you consume at the stalls. Moschiano is just a few kilometers from Lauro, Taurano, and Marzano di Nola, and is easily accessible from Nola and the Vesuvius area, making it a popular day trip for locals.