Notti Gialle (Coldiretti Avellino)

Notti Gialle: when agriculture hits the streets

The Notti Gialle is a traveling initiative through which Coldiretti Avellino brings high-quality agriculture out of the fields and into the heart of town squares. The "yellow" in the name refers to the iconic gazebos of the Campagna Amica market, the signature color representing Italian farmers who sell their own produce directly to the public. In Mirabella Eclano, in the province of Avellino, the event takes on a unique character: it is not just a food and wine festival, but a moment for public debate on the future of the inland areas of Campania.

Mirabella Eclano, gateway to ancient Aeclanum

The town of Mirabella Eclano is located in the Calore Valley, in the hilly Irpinia region—a land of great wines and, unfortunately, depopulation. The village is home to the archaeological site of ancient Aeclanum, an important Samnite and later Roman center along the Appian Way, and is famous throughout the region for the Carro, a massive straw obelisk pulled through the streets every year. It is in this context—where rural memory is not just a postcard cliché but a living practice—that the Notti Gialle find their natural home.

The Campagna Amica market and farm-to-table street food

The heart of the event is the Campagna Amica market, where Irpinian farmers offer local specialties. Alongside the market stalls, you will find farm-to-table street food, a concept through which Coldiretti reinterprets traditional home-cooked recipes for quick consumption, using only raw materials from the participating producers.

• Direct sales stalls from Irpinian farmers
• Farm-to-table street food prepared with local ingredients
• Guided tastings
• Food stalls set up in Piazza XXIV Maggio

More than just food: debating rural areas

What sets the Notti Gialle apart from a traditional village festival is the focus on public reflection. During the 2025 edition, the round-table discussion titled "The future in the strength of our roots: territory, food, and traditions" brought together university professors, health officials, institutional representatives, and local administrators in Piazza Belvedere "Torretta" to discuss quality tourism, the promotion of local excellence, and the fight against depopulation. This approach gives the event a value that goes far beyond a simple gastronomic evening.

Music, comedy, and workshops for families

The evenings conclude with a full entertainment program: concerts, musical performances, and comedy shows bring the square to life until late. In the afternoon, the space is dedicated to children with workshops organized by Donne Coldiretti—such as the 2025 "Hands in the Dough" session—designed to let little ones experience food transformation firsthand, followed by a traditional farm-style snack.

Part of the Settembre Eclanese

In Mirabella Eclano, the Notti Gialle is not an isolated event: it is part of the Settembre Eclanese, a long calendar of events that accompanies the town throughout the month, culminating in the "Grande Tirata" of the Carro. The Coldiretti stop thus joins the Festa dell'Emigrante and other municipal events, increasing attendance and offering visitors the chance to discover multiple facets of the same community in a single weekend.

Why it's worth visiting

Those who come to the Notti Gialle will not find a manufactured festival, but a faithful portrait of what it means to farm in Irpinia today: transparent prices, producers who share their work, simple dishes, and a square filled with families. It is a useful opportunity for those visiting inland Campania who want to get to know the territory beyond the most beaten tourist paths, among the vineyards of Irpinia and the villages of the Calore Valley.