Festival of Good Things

The tastiest festival of the Ischian summer

The Festival of Good Things is one of the most beloved and long-standing events of the summer in Serrara Fontana, a village on the island of Ischia in the province of Naples, Campania. Every year, on a July evening, the Belvedere of Serrara—a natural terrace overlooking the sea and the promontory of Sant'Angelo—fills with food stalls, folk music, and period costumes. In 2026, the event reached its 42nd edition, confirming its status as the festival that best captures the peasant soul of the island's highlands.

The "good things": a traditional menu

The name of the festival says it all: at its core are the genuine flavors of the simple, traditional cuisine of Serrara, the kind families prepared when the local economy relied on vineyards, terraced gardens, and shepherding, long before the rise of tourism. The stalls set up on the Belvedere offer the specialties that the public looks forward to every year:

• Sausage and eggplant sandwich, the signature dish of the event, prepared and served non-stop throughout the evening.
• Insalata cafona, a quintessential Campanian dish made with garden vegetables, stale bread, and olive oil.
• Fried zeppole, the stars of the evening's sweet selection.
• Local wine, which pairs perfectly with the entire gastronomic journey.

Folk music, cabaret, and dancing in the square

Alongside the food, the festival offers an annual entertainment program that blends tradition with fun. In 2026, the highlight was the performance by the Pastellesse Sound Group – I Bottari di Macerata Campania, a group that reinterprets ancient Campanian folk sounds using barrels, vats, and scythes; the evening continued with a DJ set by DJ Faber. In 2025, the stage featured the Piacca Band and comedian Simone Schettino, with the night also concluding with DJ Faber.

The costume parade and the Peasant Museum

What sets the Festival of Good Things apart from a simple food fair is its historical re-enactment aspect. Local children, women, and men parade in traditional Serrara costumes from the past, while the Peasant Museum set up for the occasion allows visitors to get a close look at the tools, trades, and daily habits of the island's rural civilization. It is a direct and engaging way to pass on the community's heritage to younger generations.

A community celebration, from the parish to the town

The event is organized by the Santa Maria del Carmine Parish with the collaboration of local citizens and the patronage of the Municipality of Serrara Fontana. This is not a commercial event: proceeds from the evening are donated to the restoration and renovation of the parish church. Dozens of volunteers handle the cooking, service, setup, and hospitality, in an organizational effort that involves the entire town.

When to go and how to reach the Belvedere

The festival traditionally takes place on a July evening, starting around 8:30 PM: the 2026 edition was held on Saturday, July 11th, and the 2025 edition on Sunday, July 13th. To facilitate access to the Belvedere, where parking is limited, a free shuttle service provided by Ischia Bus is available, departing from the Cava Pontina and Martofa areas.

Why it's worth the trip

Those who visit Ischia in the summer usually focus on the beaches, thermal parks, and the nightlife of the coast. The Festival of Good Things offers the other side of the island: that of the high villages, terraced vineyards, and a community that continues to identify with its own peasant history. It is a simple, popular, and convivial evening, set against one of the most beautiful panoramas in Campania.