Limatola Meatball Festival
Four weekends of meatballs, music, and dancing at the foot of Limatola Castle
About Meatball Festival
A festival born from home cooking
There is one dish in Campania that needs no introduction: the meatball. A dish born from leftovers, a Sunday staple, a grandmother's recipe that could satisfy the whole family with just stale bread, eggs, and a bit of cheese. It is from this simple idea that the Limatola Meatball Festival was born, a spring event in the Municipality of Limatola, in the Province of Benevento, Campania. Established in 2024 as a neighborhood party around the San Biagio Parish, in just a few years it has become one of the most popular festivals in the Isclero Valley, attracting visitors from the Caserta area and the Naples metropolitan region.
The meatball in all its variations
The menu is the heart of the event and revolves entirely around the meatball, offered in a range of preparations that changes slightly from year to year. The festival stalls typically serve:
- meatballs in tomato sauce, slow-cooked according to the family recipe;
- fried meatballs, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, also served in a sandwich;
- stewed meatballs and mixed fried meatballs, for those who want to taste multiple versions at once;
- vegetarian meatballs made with eggplant, potatoes, and seasonal vegetables with aromatic herbs, one of the most appreciated innovations by the public;
- traditional Limatola first courses, such as caserecce pasta with basil and local meat ragù;
- side dishes and traditional fare: stuffed peppers, baked potatoes, garden salads;
- local wine and beer to accompany the meal.
Food is consumed directly at the stalls: you only pay for what you eat, with no entry fee or mandatory reservation.
Live music, dancing, and family entertainment
The Meatball Festival is not just about gastronomy. Every evening is accompanied by live music and group dancing, with the musical selection curated by DJ Pierluigi Di Lorenzo. Sunday is dedicated primarily to children, with bubble shows, stilt walkers, and entertainment in the festival area. Surrounding the food stalls are handmade craft markets, featuring stalls with artisanal creations, small gifts, and local products.
Limatola, a medieval village between the Volturno and Taburno
It is worth arriving a few hours early. Limatola is a small Sannio town overlooking the Volturno Valley, dominated by its Norman-origin castle, featuring frescoed halls and panoramic terraces looking toward the Taburno massif and the Tifatini mountains. The old town, nestled beneath the manor, can be visited on foot in a short time and looks its best in spring. Its location, straddling the provinces of Benevento and Caserta, makes the festival a convenient stop for a weekend exploring the Sannio: Telese Terme, San Salvatore Telesino, and the Taburno Camposauro hills are just a few kilometers away.
How the festival works
The event takes place over several consecutive weekends, always in the open-air spaces of the San Biagio Parish, in Piazza San Biagio. On Fridays and Saturdays, it opens in the evening, while on Sundays, lunch service is added, which is very popular with families. The organization is handled by the San Biagio Festival Committee, which works with volunteers from the parish community: it is this non-commercial character that gives the festival its most authentic tone, with popular prices and a village-fair atmosphere.
Tips for your visit
- Sunday is the busiest day: those looking for tranquility should choose Friday evening.
- The spaces are outdoors: a light jacket is useful on May evenings.
- Vegetarian options are available, but it is advisable to ask for them as soon as the stalls open because they often sell out.
- Dates and times may be subject to change: the festival's Facebook page is the most up-to-date channel.
Meatball Festival — edition 2026
Third edition: four weekends plus the grand finale
In 2026, the Limatola Meatball Festival extended its calendar compared to previous years, spreading the festivities over four consecutive weekends in May — 8-9-10, 15-16-17, 22-23-24, and 29-30-31 — and closing with two days of grand finale on Monday, June 1st, and Tuesday, June 2nd, coinciding with the Republic Day holiday.
The menu
The San Biagio Parish stalls offered the meatball in all its forms: classic in tomato sauce, fried and crispy, stewed, as well as vegetarian versions made with eggplant, potatoes, and seasonal vegetables with aromatic herbs. Alongside the meatballs, traditional Limatola first courses, stuffed peppers, garden side dishes, sandwiches, and mixed fried platters were available for those preferring the street food formula, all accompanied by local wine.
Music and entertainment
Every evening had its own soundtrack, between live music and selections curated by DJ Pierluigi Di Lorenzo, with long moments of group dancing. Sundays were especially dedicated to families, with bubble shows and stilt walkers. Surrounding the gastronomic area, handmade craft markets completed the festival experience.
Admission and hours
Access was free, with consumption at the stalls. Opening on Friday and Saturday from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM; Sunday lunch from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM and dinner from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM.
Programme Meatball Festival 2026
2026 Calendar
- Friday 8, Saturday 9, and Sunday 10 May — first weekend
- Friday 15, Saturday 16, and Sunday 17 May — second weekend
- Friday 22, Saturday 23, and Sunday 24 May — third weekend
- Friday 29, Saturday 30, and Sunday 31 May — fourth weekend
- Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 June — grand finale during the June 2nd long weekend
Hours
- Friday and Saturday: 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM (lunch) and 6:00 PM - 12:00 AM (dinner)
Every evening
- Food stalls dedicated to meatballs, with meat and vegetarian options
- Live music and group dancing, with musical selection by DJ Pierluigi Di Lorenzo
- Handmade craft markets
Sundays
- Children's entertainment with bubble shows and stilt walkers
Details of the artists for each evening were announced progressively on the San Biagio Festival Committee Facebook page.
Highlights Meatball Festival 2026
- Third edition, the longest ever: four weekends in May plus the grand finale on June 1st and 2nd
- Meatballs in all versions: in sauce, fried, stewed, meat-based, and vegetarian
- Traditional Limatola dishes and wine from the Sannio Beneventano region
- Live music and group dancing every night
- Children's entertainment on Sundays: bubble shows and stilt walkers
- Handmade craft markets along the festival area
- Free admission, in the open-air spaces of the San Biagio Parish, under the medieval castle
Prices Meatball Festival 2026
Practical information — Meatball Festival
Location
Grounds of the San Biagio Parish, Piazza San Biagio, 82030 Limatola (BN), Campania. Open-air event in the center of the village, under the castle.
Hours
Friday and Saturday from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM; Sunday from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM and from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM. Hours may vary from year to year.
Admission and prices
Free admission. You only pay for what you consume at the food stalls, with portions at popular prices and street food options (meatball sandwich, mixed fried platter).
How to get there
By car: from the A1 motorway, take the Caserta Sud-Maddaloni exit, then follow signs for Telese-Caianello and the Isclero Valley towards Dugenta-Limatola. From Benevento, take the motorway junction to Telese Terme, then San Salvatore Telesino and the Isclero Valley.
By train: Caserta station, then local bus lines towards Limatola.
By plane: Naples Capodichino Airport, about an hour's drive away.
Parking
Free parking areas in the vicinity of the San Biagio Parish and along Via San Biagio. On busy evenings, it is best to arrive early.
Contacts
San Biagio Festival Committee — tel. +39 348 7492967 (also 333 3556805 and 339 4949399). Updates on dates, times, and musical evenings on the Limatola Meatball Festival Facebook page.
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Where does it take place — Meatball Festival
Spazi della Parrocchia di San Biagio, Piazza San Biagio
Piazza San Biagio, 82030 Limatola