Festa dell'Uva di Arcevia

Arcevia's Harvest Festival

The Festa dell'Uva di Arcevia is the event that, every year at the end of September, celebrates the ancient rite of the grape harvest in the heart of one of the most picturesque villages in the Marche region. Arcevia, a municipality in the province of Ancona perched on the hills dividing the Misa Valley from the Cesano Valley, opens its historic centre for four days, transforming it into a large village of conviviality, where wine, traditional food, music, and folklore intertwine in the squares and alleys.

A Tradition Nearly a Century Old

The festival's origins lie in the peasant traditions of the 1920s, when allegorical floats, built by the various districts and hamlets, paraded through the village streets to celebrate the harvest. Since then, the event has never stopped, renewing itself with each edition without losing its connection to its roots. In 2026, the Festa dell'Uva will reach its 70th edition, a milestone that makes it one of the longest-standing historical sagre in the region.

The event's value has also been recognized nationally: in 2026, the Festa dell'Uva was awarded the 'quality event' mark at the Senate of the Republic, a recognition of the ability of the Municipality of Arcevia and the Pro Loco (local tourism board) to keep alive a tradition that, as the organizers emphasized, 'is not just an event, but a collective heritage' that tells the story of the territory's identity.

Inns, Flavours, and Competitions

The beating heart of the festival are the Locande del Buon Ristoro (Inns of Good Refreshment), taverns set up in the historic centre where volunteers serve dishes of Arcevia and Marche cuisine, accompanied by local wines. Among the featured specialties are the Mais Ottofile di Arcevia (Arcevia's Eight-Row Corn), a signature local product, handmade tagliatelle and pappardelle pasta, calcioni (stuffed pastries), and traditional desserts, all paired with wines from the Val Mivola.

The festival also features competitions that reflect its popular spirit:

• Vergara in Gara — a challenge among the 'vergare' (women cooks), custodians of peasant culinary knowledge, who compete for the title of best vergara with their homemade pasta;
• Miglior Piatto della Tradizione (Best Traditional Dish) — a competition among the inns for the most successful typical dish, judged by expert juries and representatives of the region's gastronomic culture.

Allegorical Floats, Music, and Shows

The most spectacular element remains the parade of allegorical floats, which winds through the historic centre on the final day of the festival, involving associations, districts, and the school community. Alongside the parade, the programme offers concerts and DJ sets, street music, entertainment and games for children, fireworks displays, and a food and wine market exhibition. Four days during which the entire village of Arcevia becomes the stage for a festival that is both a peasant memory and an occasion for thousands of visitors to meet.