Festival of the Pumpkin and its Ferrarese IGP Cappellaccio – Autumn Flavours

Autumn Flavours in San Carlo di Terre del Reno

When summer is just a memory, the Festival of the Pumpkin and its Ferrarese IGP Cappellaccio returns to San Carlo, a hamlet of the Municipality of Terre del Reno, in the province of Ferrara, with its anticipated autumn event titled Autumn Flavours. Organized by Pro Loco San Carlo "Sagre e Dintorni", the event takes place at the covered and heated gastronomic stand of the San Carlo Sports Field, on Via Statale 101, between late October and the first days of November.

The Cappellaccio, Prince of the Ferrarese Table

The absolute heart of the festival is the cappellaccio, the characteristic ravioli filled with pumpkin, Parmigiano Reggiano, nutmeg, and breadcrumbs, which represents one of the symbolic dishes of Ferrarese cuisine. Here, it is prepared by hand according to the traditional recipe and offered in numerous variations: with ragù, with butter and sage, or in richer versions designed for the cold season. The autumn specialty is the cappellaccio with truffle, served with stracchino cheese, and the famous "cappellaccio del cuore" (heart's cappellaccio), seasoned with walnuts and Marsala wine.

A Menu Designed for the Season

In addition to cappellacci, the stand offers an extensive menu that highlights pumpkin and local products:

• appetizers such as pumpkin piadina and pinzini, and cured meat platters;
• traditional Emilian first courses: tortellini, lasagne, pumpkin and porcini mushroom crepes, pumpkin spätzle;
• seasonal main courses such as escalopes with pumpkin and balsamic vinegar, cotolette (breaded cutlets), polenta, and porchetta;
• homemade desserts: pumpkin pie, zuppa inglese, panna cotta, and tagliatelle cake;
• sparkling house white and red wines, beer, and an extensive wine list by the bottle.

A Village Tradition

Born in the late nineties, the San Carlo Pumpkin Festival has become one of the most well-known food and wine events in the Ferrarese area, with a large summer edition in August and this more intimate autumn showcase. Autumn Flavours preserves the convivial and popular spirit of a village festival: the dishes are prepared by Pro Loco volunteers, and the heated stand allows visitors to enjoy Emilian cuisine even with the first fogs of the Bassa region. The event is an opportunity to discover the gastronomic identity of Emilia-Romagna, and particularly the Ferrarese tradition, where pumpkin has been a protagonist for centuries.

Useful Information

Admission is free. The stand is open in the evenings (Friday and Saturday for dinner) and on Sundays for lunch. Takeaway service is available, and reservations are recommended, especially on busier days.