Chestnut Festival

One of Irpinia's longest-running festivals

Every autumn, the small village of Salza Irpina, in the province of Avellino, transforms for three days into the capital of the chestnut. The Chestnut Festival, which began in the 1980s, reached its 40th edition in 2025: forty years of fires lit in the alleys, perforated pans for roasting chestnuts, and rustic recipes passed down by the local women. Today, it is one of the most anticipated and enduring events in the entire Avellino region, drawing visitors from across inland Campania.

The village and its chestnut groves

Salza Irpina has just over seven hundred inhabitants and sits at an altitude of about 540 meters, on the hills rising toward the Terminio massif, within the Terminio-Cervialto Mountain Community. Chestnut groves are the town's primary forest resource, alongside porcini mushrooms, vineyards, and vegetables. The festival was born from this deep bond between the village and its woods, rather than being a manufactured tourist attraction. It is a celebration that inland Campania does well, where the featured product is truly grown just steps away from the town squares.

What to eat

The chestnut is the undisputed star, served both in hot dishes and in its simplest, most irresistible form: roasted over an open fire. At the food stalls set up in the historic center, you will typically find:

• Roasted chestnuts prepared on-site, filling the alleys and squares with their aroma all evening;
• Fusilli pasta with porcini mushrooms and sausage;
• Chestnut soup with beans and porcini, a signature dish of local peasant cuisine;
• Sandwiches with sausage, cotechino, mortadella, and burgers, as well as dishes served with fries;
• Traditional desserts, including those prepared with chestnut flour;
• Local wine from Irpinian vineyards, served by the glass.

A distinctive feature of the event is the kitchen, managed by the women of the village who work with recipes passed down through generations, recently joined by the creativity of the local youth.

Music, DJ sets, and entertainment

The program goes beyond just food. The festival offers three evenings and a Sunday lunch featuring live music, DJ sets, and entertainment for all ages, spread across two main locations: Piazza Michele Capozzi and Via Celza. The 2025 edition featured a mix of cover bands, blues ensembles, and DJs playing until late, while Sunday was dedicated primarily to families with a festival lunch starting at noon.

Who organizes the festival

The event is organized by the Maria SS. delle Grazie Festival Committee together with the Pro Loco Ciao Salza and the Salza Irpina Youth Forum, with the patronage of the municipal administration. In recent years, the torch has been passed to a group of local young people who have embraced the legacy of previous generations while maintaining the event's popular, self-funded spirit. There are no big-event headliners here; just an entire village working together for a weekend.

When it takes place

The event traditionally falls in October, usually on a weekend between the beginning and the middle of the month. In 2025, the 40th edition was held from October 3rd to 5th, while in 2024, the 39th edition took place from October 18th to 20th. The dates for the new edition are usually announced on the Committee's social media channels a few weeks before the event, so it is advisable to check them before planning your trip.