Mozzarella Festival

A festival dedicated to Buffalo Mozzarella PDO

The Mozzarella Festival is the most anticipated summer event in Santa Maria la Fossa, a small town of just over two thousand inhabitants in the province of Caserta, in the heart of Campania. For two August evenings, the town center transforms into a culinary journey built entirely around the product that has made this part of the region famous: Buffalo Mozzarella PDO.

Santa Maria la Fossa lies in the Volturno Plain, a few kilometers from Capua and Grazzanise, in a territory defined by buffalo farms and dairies that process fresh buffalo milk daily. The festival stems from this reality: it is not a manufactured event, but a showcase of a local economy built on stables, family-run dairies, and crafts passed down through generations.

Where it takes place

The heart of the event is Corso Umberto I, the main artery of the town, which is equipped for the occasion with stalls, gazebos, and a stage for evening entertainment. In past editions, producer stalls have also been distributed along other streets, involving the entire center rather than just one square. Entry is free, and the festival comes alive from late afternoon until late at night, when the cooler air makes strolling between the stalls more pleasant.

What to taste

• Buffalo Mozzarella PDO in various sizes, from bite-sized bocconcini to braids, sliced and served on the spot;
• other buffalo dairy products from the Caserta tradition: ricotta, smoked provola, scamorza, and stracciata;
• dishes from popular Campanian cuisine offered by local food stands;
• direct sales from local dairies, with the chance to speak directly with those who produce the mozzarella.

Music, shows, and atmosphere

Alongside the culinary aspect, the festival has always had a strong entertainment component, with evening concerts of Neapolitan and neomelodic music on the stage set up along the main street. Recent editions have featured artists popular in the province of Caserta, including Marco Calone, Gianluca Manzieri, and the group Le One, accompanied by performances from local dance schools. The formula is that of a classic village festival, and it works: you walk, you taste, you stop under the stage, and you stay until late.

A community event

The festival is organized by a committee of volunteers, merchants, and producers with the patronage of the Municipality of Santa Maria la Fossa, which has made it one of the central moments of the town's summer calendar alongside the patronal feast of San Restituto. The involvement of local associations and town families is what gives the event its character: you don't come here for an event designed for tourists, but for the festival the town throws for itself, which it gladly opens to visitors from neighboring municipalities.

Why it's worth the trip

The province of Caserta is the historic home of buffalo mozzarella, and in Santa Maria la Fossa, you taste it where it is born, just a few hundred meters from the buffaloes that provide the milk. The difference between a supermarket mozzarella and one that is only a few hours old, still warm and with its whey, can only be understood by tasting it on-site: this is why the festival attracts visitors every year from the entire area of Capua, Grazzanise, Casal di Principe, and San Tammaro.

When it takes place

The Mozzarella Festival traditionally takes place around mid-August, close to Ferragosto: the fifth edition was held on August 11 and 12, 2025, on the same dates as the previous edition. As of the update of this page, the dates for the next edition have not yet been announced by the organizers: it is advisable to follow the festival's social media channels and municipal notices to find out as soon as they are released.