Foglianise Wheat Festival

A centuries-old tradition in the heart of the Sannio

The Foglianise Wheat Festival is one of the most iconic summer events in Campania. Every August, the Municipality of Foglianise—a town of just over three thousand inhabitants nestled at 350 meters above sea level on the slopes of the Taburno massif in the province of Benevento (Campania)—transforms into an open-air museum dedicated to a single material: the wheat stalk. The first written records of the festival date back to the 15th century, when it was a Festival of Abundance linked to harvest thanksgiving rites, a distant legacy of the Roman Feriae Augusti.

The turning point came with the 1656 plague, which decimated the population: the community turned to Saint Roch, and from that moment on, the offering of wheat became an act of devotion. In 1727, the saint's relic arrived in Foglianise, housed in a 17th-century polychrome wooden statue that is displayed only during the festival days. Since then, the tradition has remained unbroken, save for a suspension in 2020 and 2021.

Wheat floats: monuments of woven straw

The heart of the event lies in the wheat floats, monumental works built by hand by the local Wheat Masters. Churches, facades, bell towers, altars, and agricultural tools are reproduced to scale, covering the structures with wheat stalks using techniques passed down through generations:

• Trecce (Braids): decorative weaves of three to nine strands, used for borders and floral motifs;
• Scupidù, the "little lace": four to seven strands wrapped around an iron or wooden support;
• Fascette: thin strips of straw glued onto gummed paper and applied "right-side up" or "upside down" to create light effects.

The floats are divided into traditional floats (historical and devotional), monumental facades that can reach nearly five meters in height, three-dimensional works, and so-called "novelty floats," which are more allegorical and contemporary. Each edition has a theme: since 2007, Italian regions have been honored in rotation, with Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia featured in 2025.

The August 16th parade

The most anticipated moment is the wheat float parade, traditionally held on the morning of August 16th, the feast day of Saint Roch. Accompanied by the local folk group and the marching band, the floats travel through the town from Piazza Santa Maria, via Municipio, and via Roma, ending with a blessing at the Chapel of Saint Roch. The event concludes with the awarding of the Wheat Masters and greetings to guest delegations.

Ten days between the sacred and the profane

The festival typically spans ten days, from August 8th to 18th. It opens on the 8th, the feast of Saint Cyriacus, the town's patron saint, with a procession to the Chapel of Saint Roch, and closes with the return of the statue and final religious celebrations. The secular calendar alternates between fixed appointments and new events:

• a comedy show on the evening of August 16th, immediately following the parade;
• a band or lyrical-orchestral concert on the evening of August 17th;
• a concert by a nationally renowned artist on the evening of August 18th in Piazza Fiamme Gialle, followed by a fireworks display;
• the non-competitive Strafoglianise running race, vintage car and motorcycle rallies, exhibitions, dance performances, and folk evenings featuring local artists.

A recognized heritage

The Wheat Festival is more than just a local fair; it is a culturally recognized asset.

• In 2008, the Campania Region included it among its "major events of national and international relevance";
• in 2012, the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano awarded it the Medal of the Presidency of the Republic;
• the floats were showcased at the 2015 Expo in Milan;
• the festival is listed in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Campania and is a candidate for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status through the Network of Rites and Wheat Festivals of the Southern Apennines.

What to taste in Foglianise

The food stalls set up along via Roma offer the most authentic Sannio cuisine. Foglianise is also a land of viticulture and olive growing: here, the wines of the Taburno are produced, from Falanghina to Aglianico del Taburno, also vinified by the Cantina del Taburno cooperative using grapes from hundreds of local growers. A visit in August thus combines the straw floats with the discovery of one of the most authentic areas in the province of Benevento.