Festival of the Re-enactment of the Firing of Vegetable Charcoal
In Pomonte, the ancient art of charcoal burners is revived, with tradition, cuisine, and dancing evenings
About Firing of Vegetable Charcoal
Pomonte and the memory of charcoal burners
In Pomonte, a small hamlet in the municipality of Gualdo Cattaneo in the heart of Umbria, in the province of Perugia, the Festival of the Re-enactment of the Firing of Vegetable Charcoal celebrates a craft that for centuries has marked the economy of these woods. The event, organized by the Pro Loco Pomonte, reconstructs the ancient charcoal pile: the stack of wood covered with earth and slowly fired for days to obtain vegetable charcoal.
Between re-enactment, culture, and gastronomy
The festival combines the demonstration of the charcoal burners' work with moments of culture, popular tradition, and dancing evenings. The local cuisine is central: among the specialties featured at the stalls are snails in the Pomonte style and goose dishes, accompanied by Umbrian wines. The evenings, with music and dancing, extend the festival until late at night.
A tradition still alive
Now in its many editions, the Pomonte festival is one of the most characteristic August events in the Gualdo Cattaneo area: a way to pass on to new generations artisanal knowledge linked to the woods and rural life of inner Umbria.
Firing of Vegetable Charcoal — edition 2026
For the 2026 edition, scheduled from August 6 to 15, the hamlet of Pomonte renews the re-enactment of the firing of vegetable charcoal, with the reconstruction of the ancient charcoal pile and demonstrations of the charcoal burners' work. Alongside the re-enactment part, ten evenings of tradition, culture, local gastronomy, and dancing, with stalls offering Pomonte specialties — snails in the Pomonte style and goose dishes — and local wines.
Programme Firing of Vegetable Charcoal 2026
The detailed daily program for the 2026 edition will be published by Pro Loco Pomonte on their official channels in the weeks preceding the festival. The established format includes, for each evening (August 6 – 15):
- Evening opening of the food stalls with traditional Pomonte dishes (snails in the Pomonte style, goose, typical first courses and desserts) and Umbrian wines.
- Re-enactment of the charcoal pile and demonstration of the charcoal burners' work.
- Dancing evenings with live music and entertainment.
Detailed program coming soon.
Highlights Firing of Vegetable Charcoal 2026
Prices Firing of Vegetable Charcoal 2026
Practical information — Firing of Vegetable Charcoal
How to get here
Pomonte is a hamlet of Gualdo Cattaneo, in the province of Perugia. By car, from Foligno or Todi, reach the Gualdo area following signs for Pomonte. The festival takes place in the centre of the hamlet.
Dining
Food stalls with typical dishes (snails in the Pomonte style, goose) and local wines for all evenings.
Information
Pro Loco Pomonte — official Facebook page proloco.pomonte.
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Where does it take place — Firing of Vegetable Charcoal
Pomonte (frazione di Gualdo Cattaneo)