I Love Truck in Sud

I Love Truck in Sud at the Villa Comunale in Santa Maria Capua Vetere

I Love Truck in Sud is the traveling street food village that, from May 14 to 17, 2026, stopped at the Villa Comunale of Santa Maria Capua Vetere, a town in the province of Caserta, Campania. For four days, the public garden turned into an open-air gastronomic village: selected trucks lined up along the paths, communal tables, music, and children's entertainment. It is a simple and direct way to bring people back to the square, between a sandwich and a DJ set.

The formula is the tried-and-tested one of street food gatherings: no tickets, no reservations, free entry, and you choose what to eat as you move from one truck to another. The initiative is promoted by the I Love Truck in Sud association, which brings the same format to various towns in Southern Italy, turning a central public space into a gastronomic lounge for a few days.

What to eat

The village brings together street food from different regions, with sweet and savory options designed to be eaten on the go. Among the specialties announced for the Santa Maria stop:

• American-style smash burgers and crispy fried seafood;
• Porchetta meatballs and Tuscan cinta senese;
• Caciocavallo impiccato, the cheese melted and served hot;
• Apulian bombette and traditional Neapolitan fried pizza;
• Arancini and Sicilian cannoli;
• Chips, crêpes, and churros for the sweet tooth.

It is a deliberately varied menu that places Campanian dishes alongside specialties from other regions: groups can split up among different trucks and meet back at the same table with different dishes, which is the very essence of these types of events.

Live music, DJ sets, and entertainment

Every evening had its own soundtrack. It kicked off on Thursday, May 14, with a live performance by Silvano e gli Elettroni (9:00 PM - 11:30 PM). On Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16, the stage was taken over by Gennaro Corona's DJ set, from 8:00 PM until late. The closing on Sunday, May 17, featured a live show by the I Mille e una Nota Live Band (9:00 PM - 11:30 PM). Throughout the event, the children's area, managed by Patapumfete Animation, offered bouncy castles, face painting, and mascots: a detail that makes the evening enjoyable even for families with small children who might otherwise struggle with a long wait.

A traveling format in Southern Italy

The Santa Maria Capua Vetere stop was part of a spring tour that in 2026 reached other centers in Campania, from Baiano (province of Avellino) to Telese Terme (province of Benevento). The underlying idea remains the same: occupy a central square or public garden for a few days and return it to the citizens as a village of taste, with free admission, long hours, and evening programming designed to keep the party going until night.

Santa Maria Capua Vetere, the city and its Villa Comunale

Santa Maria Capua Vetere is one of the most populous centers in the province of Caserta and is best known for its Campanian Amphitheatre, one of the most important Roman remains in Campania. The Villa Comunale, just a few steps from the city center, is the city's daily green lung: mature trees, wide paths, and benches that naturally fill up on May evenings. It is a convenient setting for a food truck village because it allows the vehicles to be distributed along the pedestrian paths without closing roads and without moving the event away from everyday life.

Quick practical information

• Where: Villa Comunale, Santa Maria Capua Vetere (CE), Campania.
• When: May 14 to 17, 2026, four days.
• Admission: Free, you only pay for what you consume at the trucks.
• For whom: Families, groups of friends, street food enthusiasts.
• Updates: Social media channels of the I Love Truck in Sud association.