Fucino PGI Potato Festival

A festival in the heart of the Marsica region

The Fucino PGI Potato Festival is one of the most cherished culinary events in the town of Celano, in the province of L'Aquila, nestled in the heart of the Abruzzo Marsica. Every summer, the historic Piazza Aia district dresses up to celebrate the signature product of the Fucino plain: the potato, recognized with the European PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) label, which takes center stage in tastings and traditional peasant dishes.

The product: Fucino PGI Potato

The Fucino Potato is grown in the ancient basin of the former Fucino Lake, which was drained in the second half of the 19th century by Alessandro Torlonia. The fertile soil, rich in potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium, combined with the temperature fluctuations typical of the Marsica plateau, gives the tuber organoleptic qualities recognized at a European level. The festival was created specifically to promote this agricultural excellence of Abruzzo, which involves municipalities of the plain such as Celano, Avezzano, Trasacco, and Luco dei Marsi.

Program and atmosphere

The event spans three days, blending gastronomy, entertainment, and popular devotion. On festival evenings, food stalls offer dishes based on Fucino potatoes, while the square comes alive with:

• brass band concerts and live music;
• folk dances and the traditional Ballo della Pupazza, a highlight of local folklore;
• shows for children and entertainment for all ages;
• a solemn procession with a torchlight parade and fireworks on the final evening.

Faith and community

The festival is promoted by the Confraternita di Maria SS. del Giubileo, linked to the Church of San Rocco in Celano, and is intertwined with religious celebrations in honor of the Madonna del Giubileo. Alongside the culinary program, there is space for the Holy Rosary, Holy Mass, and the investiture of new confreres, testifying to the deep bond between peasant tradition and popular devotion that characterizes the villages of Marsica.

Why attend

For those visiting inland Abruzzo, the Fucino PGI Potato Festival is an opportunity to discover the authenticity of Celano—dominated by its famous Castello Piccolomini—and to savor the genuine cuisine of the Fucino plain in a festive village atmosphere, amidst music, flavors, and Marsican hospitality.