Fusillo and Porchetta Festival

A historic festival in the heart of Irpinia

The Fusillo and Porchetta Festival is one of the most enduring and beloved culinary events of the Irpinian summer. It takes place in Parolise, a tiny municipality in the Province of Avellino, Campania, nestled at an altitude of just over five hundred meters between the Sabato and Calore river valleys. For two August evenings, its six hundred residents welcome thousands of visitors from across Irpinia and the nearby Naples area.

The event was born and grew within the town's social and religious fabric: it is historically organized by the Committee for the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of N.S.G.C., the same group that animates Parolise's most heartfelt celebration, the Feast of the Scattered Blood on the first Sunday of July. Therefore, the festival is more than just a culinary evening; it is a moment of fundraising, gathering, and collective identity for the entire community.

Hand-rolled fusilli, a collective ritual

The signature dish is the fusillo: not industrial pasta, but the Irpinian fusillo hand-rolled around a metal rod. The local women prepare it, gathering in the days leading up to the festival to knead, cut, and roll kilos of pasta following their grandmothers' ancient recipe. It is a long, patient labor, passed down from generation to generation, representing the true soul of the festival.

The fusilli are served with rich sauces typical of Irpinian peasant cuisine and a dusting of local cheese. The quality of the raw ingredients and the artisanal preparation are what distinguish this event from the many summer food festivals that crowd the region's calendar.

Porchetta and the rest of the menu

The other star is the porchetta, slow-roasted and sliced to order. Alongside the two dishes that give the festival its name, the stands offer the best of the Irpinian pork tradition:

• Pork chops and grilled cutlets
• Sausages and cotechini
• Traditional local rolls
• French fries and seasonal side dishes
• Homemade desserts prepared by the women of Parolise

Everything is paired with Montemarano wine, the Aglianico from the nearby Irpinian town that has always been the natural companion for these August evenings.

Folk music and village atmosphere

Each evening is enlivened by live music: folk orchestras, folk groups, and especially the Montemarano tarantella, the traditional dance that is an authentic intangible heritage in this part of Irpinia. Over the years, local groups and tarantella schools have taken the stage, with dancing continuing late into the night in Piazza Giovanni Falcone, the heart of the event.

The atmosphere is that of a typical village festival: long outdoor tables, families, children running between stalls, and groups of friends returning every year. There is nothing artificial, which is precisely why the festival continues to have such a loyal following.

Parolise, a village to discover

Attending the festival is also an opportunity to discover Parolise, the ancient Parulisio, one of the smallest municipalities in the Province of Avellino. The village lies along the route connecting the provincial capital to Upper Irpinia and is just minutes away from towns well-known to wine lovers, such as Montemarano, Castelvetere sul Calore, and Salza Irpina. It is an area where hilly landscapes, vineyards, and rustic cuisine remain the main attractions.

When it takes place

The Fusillo and Porchetta Festival is traditionally held in the second half of August, over two consecutive evenings, with stands opening in the early evening. The 2025 edition took place on August 21st and 22nd in Piazza Giovanni Falcone. The dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced; it is therefore advisable to check the channels of the Municipality of Parolise and the organizing committee before traveling.