Fusillo al Ferretto Festival

A festival born around a metal rod

In mid-August, the small town of Castelpoto, perched at 293 meters above sea level in the hills of the province of Benevento, transforms into a giant open-air kitchen. The Fusillo al Ferretto Festival is one of the longest-running events of the Sannio summer: in 2025, it reached its thirty-seventh edition, confirming its status as one of the most authentic food and wine events in inland Campania.

The fusillo, the pasta of the rod

The fusillo al ferretto isn't bought: it's pulled. The semolina and water dough is wrapped around a long, thin metal rod—the ferretto, once a bicycle spoke or a fireplace skewer—and then slid off to create a curled tube that holds the sauce perfectly. It is a humble, domestic culinary art that the older women of Castelpoto demonstrate in public during the hand-made pasta workshop held during the festival: a tangible way to pass the technique on to younger generations and ensure it doesn't fade away.

The red sausage, a Slow Food Presidium

The town's other symbol accompanies the dish: the red sausage of Castelpoto, recognized as a Slow Food Presidium. It is made from knife-cut, coarsely ground pork, mixed with local sweet pepper powder—which gives it its vibrant color—and stuffed into natural casings, with a minimum curing time of several weeks. Traditional production runs from November to April, but it is in August, over the glowing embers of the festival stalls, that the red sausage meets the greatest number of visitors. The festival also features other Sannio specialties and local wines, from Aglianico del Taburno to Falanghina del Sannio.

How the festival works

The food stalls open in the evening, around 8:30 PM, and are spread throughout the streets and squares of the historic center; the logistical heart is Piazza Libertà, next to the municipal Ethnographic Museum, which remains open during the festival to showcase the tools and trades of the local peasant civilization. The Pro Loco usually sets up an information point with guided tours of the village and the museum. Admission to the event is free: you only pay for what you consume.

Music, bottari, and evenings in the square

Every night, a stage brings the festival to life until late. The musical program focuses on Campanian folk traditions and dance bands: over the years, the lineup has included bottari—musicians playing barrels, vats, and scythes from the Caserta area—street bands, ballroom orchestras, Neapolitan dance groups, cover bands, and neomelodic singers. The result is an authentic village festival, highly popular with families and Sannio emigrants who return home for Ferragosto.

Organizers

The festival is promoted by the Parish of San Nicola Vescovo di Mira through the Committee for the Feast of the Holy Martyrs Costanzo, Simplicio, and Vittoriano, the patron saints of Castelpoto celebrated on May 14th, in collaboration with the Municipal Administration. The bond between religious and gastronomic celebrations is typical of Sannio villages: the committee that manages the martyrs' celebrations is the same one that sets up the kitchens, stage, and service in the summer.

Castelpoto and the Benevento Sannio

With about a thousand inhabitants, Castelpoto is located about ten kilometers from Benevento, in a landscape of vineyards and olive groves rising toward the Taburno-Camposauro massif. The town has a second festival dedicated to its signature product, the Red Sausage Festival, held in the spring, while the winter tradition of pittulo—corn flatbread baked on stone—still persists. A visit to the Fusillo al Ferretto Festival is therefore also an opportunity to discover a corner of Campania much less traveled than the coast.

Towards the 2026 edition

As of the writing of this guide, the organizers have not yet released official dates or the program for the 2026 edition. However, the event remains anchored to the week of Ferragosto: in recent years, it has taken place from August 12th to 15th (2023 and 2025) and from August 11th to 15th (2024). It is advisable to check for updates published by the Municipality of Castelpoto and on the social media channels of the Committee of the Holy Martyrs before setting off.