Grilled Sausage Festival of Carassai

A Tradition Dating Back to 1972

The Grilled Sausage Festival is one of the most deeply rooted gastronomic events in the Municipality of Carassai, a small hilly village in the province of Ascoli Piceno, in southern Marche. Organized since 1972 by the Polisportiva Carassai (Carassai Sports Club), the festival was born with a dual purpose: to self-finance the association's activities and to carry forward its social function of education through sport. For over fifty years, the event has been renewed in August, becoming one of the most anticipated moments of the Carassai summer.

The Star: Carassai Sausage

The heart of the festival is the Carassai sausage, a typical product distinguished by a unique feature: in addition to the ground pork mixture, flavored with garlic, wine, and pepper, ham is also added, giving the sausage a full and unmistakable flavor. Cooked on hot grills and served in a bun or on a plate, it is a specialty that is not easily found commercially during the rest of the year, and which precisely for this reason attracts enthusiasts and the curious every summer.

What to Eat

In addition to the sausage, the food stalls offer the genuine flavors of Piceno cuisine:

• grilled sausage in a bun or on a plate;
• baked potato sides and fresh salads;
• 'fagioli all'uccelletto' (beans with tomato sauce and sage) and local traditional dishes;
• local wines, to provide the ideal accompaniment.

Music, Dancing, and Festive Atmosphere

The Grilled Sausage Festival is not just a gastronomic occasion: every evening the historic center of Carassai transforms into a large convivial space, with dancing evenings, live music, prize games, and stalls. There is also a dedicated area for children, making the event suitable for families and visitors of all ages. Strolling through the village streets, discovering the architectural corners of Carassai, and tasting the sausage fresh off the grill is the experience that has accompanied these August evenings for generations.

A Village to Discover

The festival is also an opportunity to visit Carassai, a village in the Val Menocchia nestled among the hills of the Piceno hinterland, a short distance from the Adriatic coast. The event is part of the rich calendar of summer festivals in the Marche, contributing to keeping the gastronomic and community identity of the territory alive.