Laganelle and Chickpeas Festival

An August evening in the heart of Irpinia

The Laganelle and Chickpeas Festival is one of the most anticipated summer events in the Municipality of Roccabascerana, in the province of Avellino, in the heart of inland Campania. It typically takes place on an evening in early August, often the first Monday of the month, and is centered in Piazza Michele Imbriani, the town's main square, with the historic part of the village serving as a backdrop.

It is not a multi-day event: it is a single evening, from sunset until late at night, when the town center is closed to traffic, stands and tables are set up, and the village transforms into a large open-air kitchen. This concentrated format, combined with the affordable prices of peasant tradition, has made the festival a draw that goes well beyond municipal borders, attracting visitors from all over Irpinia and the nearby Valle Caudina.

Laganelle with chickpeas, a signature dish

The dish that gives the festival its name is the laganella, a small type of fresh pasta—a close relative of the lagana, the sheet of dough cut into strips of ancient Mediterranean memory—simply kneaded with flour, water, and salt, and rolled by hand. It is seasoned with chickpeas, the legume that has always accompanied summer preparations in Southern peasant cuisine, cooked slowly until they become a flavorful cream.

Surrounding the main dish, the stands offer other specialties of the Roccabascerana table:

• country-style sausages grilled over charcoal;
• seasonal side dishes prepared according to local tradition;
• local wines, starting with Irpinian Aglianico, which naturally pairs with both the pasta and chickpeas and the meat;
• sweets and typical local products.

Since 1991: a festival born to pass down traditions

The event was born in 1991 with a stated goal: to pass down the town's ancient traditions and evoke old memories, involving young and old in activities that use the historic center as a stage. Over the years, the festival has refined its organization without losing its community spirit, where the town's volunteers do the kneading, cooking, and serving.

The progression of the editions clearly shows this continuity: in August 2023, the 31st edition was celebrated, in August 2024 the 32nd, and the festival returned punctually in the summer of 2025, always in Piazza Michele Imbriani.

Who organizes it

Behind the festival are the Non-profit Socio-cultural Association «A Rocca» and the «Paese Mio» Group, which collaborate with the municipal administration and the Pro Loco for the setup of the evening. It is an entirely volunteer-run organization, typical of Irpinian festivals, where the proceeds are primarily used to keep the initiative and the town's associative activities alive.

Music and atmosphere

The evening is always accompanied by live music: in past editions, folk and dance bands have taken turns, with a repertoire of ballroom and Campanian tradition music that keeps the square dancing until late at night. The atmosphere remains that of a familiar village feast, suitable even for those coming with children.

Roccabascerana, between Valle Caudina and Valle del Sabato

Roccabascerana (postal code 83016) is a small municipality of just over two thousand inhabitants, nestled at an altitude of about 430 meters on a ridge that divides the Valle Caudina from the Valle del Sabato, right on the border between the provinces of Avellino and Benevento. The municipal territory includes the hamlets of Cassano Caudino, Squillani, Tufara Valle, Tuoro, and Zolli, and preserves the memory of the castle and the medieval village that appears in ancient documents under the name «Quascierana».

Those arriving for the festival will therefore also find a good reason for a walk before dinner in the historic center, and the possibility of combining the visit with the discovery of a premier wine-growing area of Campania, among the municipalities of Taurasi, Fiano di Avellino, and Greco di Tufo.

When it takes place

The event traditionally falls in the first week of August, in a single evening starting around 8:00 PM. The dates, however, are not fixed from year to year and are communicated by the organizers and the Municipality a few weeks in advance: it is therefore advisable to check the social media channels of the promoting associations and the Irpinia event portals before setting off.