Fiesta Mexicana

A Mexican-themed festival in the Terra di Lavoro

The Fiesta Mexicana is the event that wraps up the summer in Caturano, a village in the municipality of Macerata Campania, in the province of Caserta, in the heart of the plains locals still call the Terra di Lavoro. For three consecutive nights, the festival grounds come alive with long tables, colorful lights, and music. The chosen theme isn't a typical local product, as is common in most Campanian festivals, but Mexico, with its convivial cuisine and vibrant rhythms.

It is a format that has spread across many towns in Campania in recent years and has found a loyal following here: the festival remains deeply rooted in the local spirit—organized by volunteers, held outdoors, and free to enter—but with a unique menu and soundtrack.

What to expect

The Fiesta Mexicana takes place in the evening, when the August heat subsides and families head out. The setup is typical of Caserta village festivals, with a few distinctive features:

• Themed food stalls, offering Mexican and Tex-Mex street food specialties;
• Live music and DJ sets during the peak hours of the evening, featuring Latin sounds and dance music;
• Entertainment and a kids' area, making the event suitable for the whole family;
• Scenic decorations inspired by Mexican imagery, which are a favorite for visitors' photos;
• Free admission every night, with food and drinks available for purchase at individual stalls.

The detailed program—including band names, stall opening times, and side activities—is released by the organizers in the weeks leading up to the event, primarily through social media channels and posters displayed around the village.

Caturano and Macerata Campania

Macerata Campania is a town of just over ten thousand inhabitants located a few kilometers from the provincial capital, Caserta, in a historically agricultural plain. Caturano is one of its two villages, along with Casalba, and maintains a strong sense of community with an active network of associations that keep the local calendar busy.

The town is known far beyond provincial borders for the Festa di Sant'Antuono and the Battuglie di Pastellessa, the major January event where carts loaded with barrels, tubs, and scythes roll through the streets, producing the famous sound of the 'pastellessa': an intangible heritage recognized and studied, which has made Macerata Campania a benchmark for Campanian folk traditions. The Fiesta Mexicana belongs to a completely different, lighter, and more contemporary register, but it stems from the same vocation: building community around a public square.

When it takes place

The 2026 edition is scheduled from Friday, August 28th to Sunday, August 30th, on the last full weekend of the month. This is the classic timing for festivals in the Caserta area: many residents have returned from their holidays and the evenings are still warm, making it the ideal setting for an outdoor event.

In the surroundings

Visitors coming from outside the province can easily combine their evening with a tour of the area, which is among the richest in Campania:

• The Royal Palace of Caserta with its park and English Garden, just a few kilometers away;
• The medieval village of Casertavecchia, perched on the first slopes of the Tifatini mountains;
• The Campanian Amphitheatre in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, second in Italy only to the Colosseum;
• The Real Belvedere di San Leucio, an ancient Bourbon silk factory.

Tips for your visit

It is best to arrive early, between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM, to find parking more easily in the streets around the festival area and avoid the longest queues at the stalls. Saturday is traditionally the busiest night, while Friday and Sunday offer a more relaxed atmosphere, suitable for those visiting with small children. Before setting off, it is always useful to check for updates published by the organizers, as times and space layouts can vary from year to year.