Great Mustache Festival (E...STATE CON NOI)

A one-of-a-kind festival

In the heart of the province of Taranto, the town of Montemesola has hosted one of the most original events in all of Puglia for over half a century: the Great Mustache Festival. More than just a local village fair, it is a true folkloric institution that draws contestants from across Italy and curious enthusiasts of all ages to this village of just over three thousand residents every summer.

History: from 1965 to today

The festival was born in 1965 from an idea by Dr. Mario Carbonaro, a local veterinarian. Legend has it that it all started as a joke: after a lady playfully suggested he shave his mustache, Carbonaro decided to celebrate mustaches and beards with a village competition instead. Since then, the event has never stopped, reaching its 52nd edition in 2026 and becoming an appointment recognized well beyond the borders of Puglia.

The competition: Super Mustache, Super Beard, and Super Freestyle

The heart of the evening is the parade of contestants on the runway set up in Largo Osanna, renamed 'Piazza dei Sapori' (Square of Flavors) for the occasion. Judging the mustaches and beards is an all-female jury, composed of women of various ages, who award the coveted titles of Super Mustache, Super Beard, and Super Freestyle. There is also the Baffo Pro Loco d'Italia award, linked to the Unpli circuit. Every year, dozens of bearded and mustachioed men, some with truly spectacular facial hair, compete for victory in a festive and lighthearted atmosphere.

Food festivals and local flavors

Surrounding the competition are the unmissable food festivals, the true second protagonist of the event. At the stalls, you can taste traditional Montemesola and Apulian dishes: fava bean purée, fried puccia bread with mortadella, maritati pasta (orecchiette and fricielli), as well as specialties like bombette and capocollo from Martina Franca, caciocavallo impiccato (hanging cheese) from the Dauni Mountains, spaghetti all'assassina, roasted octopus, and fried fish, all accompanied by spritz and beer.

Music, shows, and atmosphere

The 'E...STATE CON NOI' formula combines the competition and food stalls with a rich entertainment program: live concerts, DJ sets, shows, children's entertainment, and Italian guest performers taking the stage. The event, organized by the Pro Loco Montemesola APS with the patronage of the Municipality of Montemesola and Unpli Puglia, offers free admission and represents the most anticipated summer event of the year for the entire community.