Monticelli Festival - Codfish Festival

Ascoli Piceno's most cherished neighborhood festival

The Festa di Monticelli is much more than a food festival: it is the great annual event of the Monticelli neighborhood, on the outskirts of Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region. Born in 1979 and organized with dedication by the two parishes of the district - that of Ss. Simone e Giuda and that of S. Giovanni Evangelista - it is a popular festival built entirely by volunteers, which for over three weeks enlivens the Piazzale dei Ss. Simone e Giuda in Via dei Frassini with cultural, sporting, recreational, and gastronomic initiatives.

The Codfish Festival

The gastronomic heart of the event is the Sagra del Baccalà (Codfish Festival), now a consolidated tradition that attracts thousands of visitors each year. The evening stalls offer the great classics based on cod alongside other specialties of Piceno cuisine: the unmissable olive all'ascolana, arrosticini, crispelle, sausage sandwiches, all accompanied by good local wine. It is the genuine and popular cuisine of the Marche, served outdoors in a festive atmosphere.

Music, shows, and neighborhood games

Every evening the stage comes alive with concerts and shows for all tastes: tribute bands, comedy in the local Ascoli dialect, evenings dedicated to young local talents, DJ sets, and big names in popular Italian music. Alongside the music, the festival preserves its most beloved traditions: the Giochi del rione (neighborhood games), which involve hundreds of participants of all ages, the charity raffle, the human foosball tournament, rhythmic gymnastics performances, the painting competition, and the grand final lottery with prizes.

Sport and community

The sporting dimension is an integral part of the festival, with the historic Maratonina di Monticelli (Monticelli Half Marathon), football and mini-volleyball tournaments, archery competitions, and challenges between the neighborhood streets. More than just an event, the Festa di Monticelli is a great collective ritual that strengthens the identity of the neighborhood and celebrates the community spirit of this corner of Ascoli Piceno, in the province of Ascoli Piceno.