Cuoppo Festival

The cuoppo, the symbol of Neapolitan street food

The cuoppo is the classic paper cone filled with hot fried food that has accompanied evening strolls, village festivals, and family Sundays in Naples and its province for generations. In Saviano, a town in the Nola area of the province of Naples, this specialty has its very own festival: the Cuoppo Festival, a summer event that brings the aromas and flavors of traditional Campanian frying to Piazzale Enrico De Nicola.

A village festival at Piazzale Enrico De Nicola

The event takes place in Piazzale Enrico De Nicola, the municipal parking area that transforms into a large open-air festival space for two days. Food stalls open in the late afternoon and remain active until late at night, while the stage hosts shows, concerts, and entertainment. It is a popular festival in the most authentic sense: you eat standing up, stroll between stalls, and stop to chat with neighbors and visitors from neighboring towns.

What to taste

The absolute star is, of course, the cuoppo, offered in various versions: seafood, land-based, and even sweet. In past editions, the stalls have served, among other things:

• fried mozzarella bites and potato croquettes;
• battered vegetables and zucchini flowers, plain or stuffed with ricotta;
• zeppole (fried dough balls);
• pasta frittatas;
• Neapolitan-style fried pizza with ricotta and cured meats;
• sandwiches, pasta dishes, and wines from local wineries.

The result is a tasting journey that tells the entire story of Neapolitan frying—the kind you buy for a few cents at historic fry shops, served here in a generous, convivial festival style.

Music, games, and shows

Alongside the culinary offerings, the event has always featured a free entertainment program. Documented editions have included tribute band concerts, evening stage shows, dedicated areas for children with games and workshops, impromptu painting competitions linked to the Saviano Carnival, and a final lottery draw. The audience is typical of Campanian festivals: families with children, groups of friends, and curious visitors looking for a simple, open-air evening without pretense.

Who organizes the festival

The Cuoppo Festival was born from the efforts of local associations, particularly Arci Masaniello and Frastuono, who created it together with the Municipality of Saviano, the Pro Loco, and the Saviano Carnival Foundation. In 2017, the festival reached its tenth edition—a level of continuity that is far from guaranteed for an event born from local volunteer work and grown without major sponsors.

Saviano, the Nola area, and Campania

Saviano is located just a few kilometers from Nola, at the foot of the Avella mountains, in an area of Campania marked by agriculture and a very strong tradition of popular festivals. The Saviano Carnival, with its allegorical float parades and thousands of participants, is one of the most popular in the province of Naples, and the Foundation that organizes it is also involved in the summer festival: the two events share volunteer teams, spaces, and audiences. For those visiting from outside the region, the Cuoppo Festival is an opportunity to see firsthand how summer is truly experienced in the towns of the Vesuvius-Nola hinterland, far from the most beaten tourist paths of the coast.

When it takes place

The event is traditionally set in July, over a two-day weekend, with stalls opening in the late afternoon. The last edition with a confirmed date was July 20th and 21st, 2025. For summer 2026, at the time of our check, there are no official announcements regarding dates: it is best to follow the channels of the Municipality of Saviano and the organizing associations to confirm the calendar and program.