Dried Fruit Festival

Three late-summer evenings dedicated to walnuts and hazelnuts

The Dried Fruit Festival has been held since 1986 in Casola di Domicella, a village in the municipality of Domicella, in the province of Avellino, Campania. It is one of the longest-running festivals in this corner of Irpinia bordering the Naples area: in 2025, the event reached its 37th edition, hosted from August 29th to 31st. The theme is no coincidence. The walnuts and hazelnuts harvested by the inhabitants of Casola from about two hundred hectares of land have always been the agricultural resource that defines the town, and the festival was created precisely to share this heritage with visitors.

Spaghett che nucell, the dish that put Casola on the map

The undisputed star of the festival is spaghett che nucell (hazelnut spaghetti): a humble yet incredibly fragrant pasta dish born from the local ingredient produced in abundance. As local chronicles recount, it has been winning over visitors' palates for nearly forty years. This is not a chef's reinterpretation, but a home-style recipe prepared by festival volunteers and served at the stalls alongside other traditional Irpinian and Campanian dishes.

The food stall menu

Alongside the signature dish, the festival's gastronomic tour has long offered a wide selection of traditional preparations:

• Spaghetti with hazelnuts, the spaghett che nucell;
• Sausage and friarielli sandwich, one of the most requested Campanian classics;
• Tripe in tomato sauce and grandmother's meatballs;
• Homemade panzarotti and fried pizza;
• Bruschetta with local products;
• Hazelnut crepes and a selection of dried fruit-based desserts;
• Local wine and draft beer;
• A gluten-free sandwich option for those with specific dietary needs.

Folk music, shows, and spaces for children

The festival is about more than just food. Each evening, the program features live folk music, performances, and an area dedicated to children's entertainment, ensuring the event remains family-friendly. In past editions, the stage has hosted names well-known to the Campanian public: in 2023, for the 35th edition, the Sunday concluded with a concert by Tony Tammaro at the Nicola Pecorelli Municipal Villa, while Saturday was dedicated to a dance performance by the Chico Latino school from Liveri. The atmosphere remains that of a village feast, with the village streets transformed for three nights into a long path of stalls, communal tables, and conversation.

A community celebration in the Vallo di Lauro

Domicella is a small municipality in the province of Avellino, on the western edge of Irpinia, in an area of hazelnut groves that marks the hilly landscape between inland Campania and the Nola plain. The Dried Fruit Festival is organized by the local Cultural Association with the help of village volunteers and serves as the event that closes the summer for Casola: an occasion where the town shows its best, sells its agricultural products, and attracts visitors from neighboring municipalities, the Nola area, and Naples.

Who is the festival for?

The event is ideal for families with children, couples, groups of friends, and individual visitors of all ages, and the event area is marked as accessible. Those visiting Irpinia for the first time can combine the evening with exploring the area: the villages of the Vallo di Lauro, the hazelnut groves, and the local dried fruit production are the natural backdrop for this festival.