Ferrara Pumpkin and its IGP Cappellaccio Festival

A festival dedicated to the Ferrara cappellaccio pumpkin

In the heart of the Po Valley, in San Carlo, a hamlet of the Municipality of Terre del Reno in the province of Ferrara (Emilia-Romagna), one of the most beloved food and wine festivals in the area takes place every summer: the Ferrara Pumpkin and its IGP Cappellaccio Festival. The event is entirely dedicated to the cappellaccio di zucca, the stuffed pasta that is the emblem of Este gastronomic tradition, recognized with the IGP mark.

Born in the late nineties thanks to a group of volunteers eager to promote their town, the festival has grown to become a major event for the entire Bassa Ferrarese region: over ten evenings in August, the food stand serves about six thousand diners. All proceeds are donated to initiatives benefiting the local community, in the spirit of solidarity of the Italian Pro Loco associations.

The cappellaccio and traditional dishes

The absolute star is the Ferrara IGP pumpkin cappellaccio, served in various ways: with ragù, with classic butter and sage, or in more creative versions with walnuts and marsala or with truffle. Alongside the signature dish, the menu offers tortellini, lasagna (with pumpkin or bolognese sauce), pumpkin pie, salamina da sugo (a type of sausage), friggione (a slow-cooked onion dish), and the characteristic pumpkin chips. To finish, a rich selection of homemade desserts such as pumpkin crostata, zuppa inglese, and torta di tagliatelle.

The preparation is entrusted to the arzdore, the Ferrara housewives who preserve the gestures of home cooking. Over the years, the festival has received important awards, including the prize for the best dish at MiSeN for the stracchino and truffle cappellacci.

Music, entertainment, and village atmosphere

In addition to gastronomy, the Pumpkin Festival offers an entertainment program every evening with live music, DJ sets, comedy shows, and baby dance for children. The food stand is covered and welcoming, with takeaway service available by reservation: an opportunity to experience the authentic conviviality of an Emilian village festival, where good food meets the hospitality of the San Carlo Pro Loco.