Filecchio Pork Shank Festival

The Filecchio Pork Shank Festival

When summer is in full swing, the small village of Filecchio, part of the municipality of Barga in the province of Lucca, gathers around the table for an evening that smells of tradition: the Pork Shank Festival. The absolute star is the roast pork shank served with potatoes, a hearty and generous dish from the rustic cuisine of the Serchio Valley, prepared and served by local association volunteers.

Who are the Polentari di Filecchio?

Behind the festival are the Polentari di Filecchio, a historic group of volunteers who have been enlivening the village's social life for decades. The same group organizes the Polenta and Bird Festival, one of the longest-running events in the entire Serchio Valley, established in 1966 and celebrated every year in early September. The Pork Shank Festival is their summer "off-program" event, a more intimate and informal evening that serves as a prelude to the major autumn appointment.

An evening of food and dance

The event takes place at the Filecchio sports field, starting in the evening. After a dinner of pork shank and potatoes, the tables make way for the dance floor: the evening continues with live music and dancing, accompanied by an orchestra that gets everyone, young and old, moving to the notes of ballroom music and upbeat rhythms. It is the typical atmosphere of Tuscan village festivals, where good food and the joy of being together matter most.

Filecchio and the Serchio Valley

Filecchio is a small hillside village just a few kilometers from the historic center of Barga, one of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany, nestled between the Apuan Alps and the Apennines. Attending the Pork Shank Festival means discovering an authentic corner of the Garfagnana and the Serchio Valley, far from mass tourism circuits, where gastronomic traditions are still preserved by local associations.

Practical information

Reservations are mandatory to attend the dinner. The festival is held on a single evening and attracts locals, vacationers, and lovers of traditional cuisine from the surroundings of Barga and Lucca.