Montoro Zeppola Festival

A pastry that tells the story of Montoro

In Montoro, a town in the province of Avellino born from the merger of Montoro Inferiore and Montoro Superiore, the zeppola is more than just a seasonal treat: it is a piece of collective identity. The dough is the soft, moist type typical of cream puffs, hand-shaped into a ring, then plunged into boiling oil or baked, and finally dusted with powdered sugar or filled with pastry cream and chocolate. The Zeppola Festival... and much more was created to celebrate this ancient local confectionery tradition and bring it to the heart of a community festival open to everyone, evening after evening.

Parco del Sole, the heart of the festival

The event takes place at Parco del Sole, in the Sant'Eustachio district of Montoro: a large, comfortable, and shaded outdoor space with parking and a dedicated children's play area. The food stalls open in the evening when the temperature becomes pleasant and the park fills with families, groups of friends, and visitors from neighboring towns in Irpinia and the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese area. The formula is the simple, time-tested one of a village fair: entry is free, you choose from the stalls, sit at communal tables, and stay until late.

What to eat

The menu revolves around the zeppola but embraces the entire culinary tradition of Campania, as the "and much more" in the name suggests:

• Fried zeppole: classic, with pastry cream, with Nutella, and a gluten-free version;
• Baked zeppole, lighter but equally fragrant;
• Wood-fired pizza, baked continuously throughout the evening;
• Sandwiches with porchetta and fries or sausage, served with mushrooms, eggplant, or potatoes;
• Melted caciocavallo cheese (caciocavallo impiccato), also served with black truffle sauce or sun-dried tomato and chili pesto;
• French fries (also gluten-free), soft drinks, water, and DOC Irpinian wine.

Music, dancing, and village atmosphere

Each evening is accompanied by live music and dancing: local bands and artists take turns on the park stage with repertoires of traditional Campanian folk music, dance hits, and classics of Italian and Neapolitan song. It is the ingredient that turns a tasting session into a true party, with entertainment continuing while the fryers keep working and the scent of zeppole spreads throughout Parco del Sole.

A festival designed for families

The presence of a playground, outdoor tables, and affordable prices make the Zeppola Festival one of the most popular events for local families. There are no tickets or pre-sales: you only pay for what you consume, and children have their own space just a few meters from the tables. This is why the event is successfully repeated every year, sometimes even twice, in spring and early autumn.

Montoro, gateway to Western Irpinia

Montoro occupies a green basin between the Picentini mountains and the Partenio range in Campania, serving as a hinge between the province of Avellino and the Irno valley of Salerno. It is a land of PGI copper onions, olive groves, and Irpinian vineyards, with a network of districts—Sant'Eustachio among them—that still preserve churches, noble palaces, and a strong sense of community. Participating in the Zeppola Festival means connecting with an authentic piece of the Campanian countryside, far from the most beaten tourist paths but close to Salerno, Avellino, and the coast.