Chichiripieno and Typical Dishes Festival

One of the oldest festivals in the Marche

The Chichiripieno and Typical Dishes Festival is one of the longest-standing and most beloved gastronomic events in the entire Marche region. Every summer, in the scenic Piazza del Popolo in Offida — a splendid village in the province of Ascoli Piceno famous for its bobbin lace and carnival — the community gathers to celebrate the dish that gives the festival its name. Organized by the Pro Loco of Offida, the festival attracts thousands of visitors from all over the Piceno area and beyond each year, confirming itself as one of the most deeply rooted traditions in Offida's summer calendar.

What is chichì ripieno

Chichì ripieno (in the Offida dialect, "chichì") is the specialty that gives the festival its name: a savory stuffed focaccia, a sort of filled pizza, prepared according to the village's traditional recipe. The classic filling combines tuna, anchovies, peppers, capers, and olives, enclosed in a soft, golden bread dough. It is a humble dish from Piceno peasant cuisine, born to use up pantry ingredients, which has become an emblem of Offida's gastronomic identity over time.

Typical dishes on the table

Alongside the star dish, the festival stalls offer a rich menu of traditional Piceno cuisine, which in recent editions has included:

• Appetizers of stuffed vegetables — eggplant, peppers, and mushrooms — and bruschetta;
• Baked timballo, a classic first course for Marche celebrations;
• Pork with garden herbs served with roasted potatoes and the unmissable Ascolana olives;
• Fried chichì and fried mushrooms, among the most requested fried items of the evening.

Atmosphere and entertainment

The festival is not just about food: the setting of Piazza del Popolo, with its historic buildings and arcades, provides the backdrop for evenings of live music and entertainment for all ages. The stalls are open from late afternoon until late evening, offering one of the most genuine convivial experiences of the summer in the municipality of Offida and throughout the province of Ascoli Piceno.

When it is held

The Chichiripieno Festival is traditionally held on the first weekend of August. The 2026 edition is scheduled for Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, 2026, in Piazza del Popolo, as confirmed by the municipality of Offida's summer program.