Hunter's Evenings

A village festival dedicated to forest cuisine

The Hunter's Evenings are the most characteristic summer event in Forano, a small town of just over three thousand inhabitants in the province of Rieti, in the Lazio region. The event spans four consecutive evenings between late July and early August and has been listed for years among the recurring events published by the Municipality and the Union of Municipalities of Bassa Sabina. This is not a manufactured event; it is a festival born from the village itself, with volunteers in the kitchen and the community gathering outdoors during the warmest summer nights.

What to eat

The common thread is game meat, the wild game cuisine that has always been part of the peasant and hunting tradition of the Sabina region. The field kitchens offer classic local recipes, served in generous portions at affordable prices, following the tried-and-tested formula of Lazio's food festivals.

• First courses seasoned with game sauces, particularly wild boar
• Meat main courses cooked on the grill or stewed
• Seasonal side dishes and local bread
• Wines from producers in the Tiber Valley and Sabina
• Homemade desserts and coffee

Those who do not care for game meat will still find simpler alternatives: a village festival kitchen knows how to be welcoming to everyone, children included.

Music, dancing, and atmosphere

After dinner, the evening changes pace. As in most summer festivals in the Rieti area, the stage hosts live music and dance nights, featuring ballroom orchestras, folk dance groups, and bands playing the most well-known Italian hits. This is the moment when the tables empty and the square fills up: a ritual that repeats every year, making these evenings more than just an outdoor dinner.

Forano and the Bassa Sabina

Forano sits at an altitude of 218 meters, overlooking the Tiber Valley, in the strip of hills that marks the transition between the Roman countryside and the Sabina area of Rieti. It is a land of ancient olive groves, famous for its DOP Sabina extra virgin olive oil, and of clustered villages that come alive in summer with a packed calendar of food festivals. The Hunter's Evenings are part of this network of events that accompanies visitors from June to September: an ideal gateway to discover a part of Lazio less beaten by tourist circuits, less than an hour from Rome.

Who is it for?

This event is perfect for those seeking authenticity rather than spectacle: families, groups of friends, hikers passing through the Sabina hills, and those curious about regional cuisine. There are no entry tickets or mandatory reservations; you arrive, sit down, and order at the counter. We recommend arriving early, as seats fill up quickly on weekends.

Good to know

As this is a volunteer-run festival, the detailed program—kitchen opening hours, names of musical groups, and any side events—is usually announced just a few weeks in advance through the Municipality of Forano's channels and posters displayed in the village. It is therefore advisable to check for updated information closer to the event.