Olive Oil Festival - EVO in Festa

The extra virgin olive oil festival in Sammichele di Bari

Every year, towards the end of November, Sammichele di Bari celebrates the product that best embodies the agricultural identity of Puglia: extra virgin olive oil. The Olive Oil Festival - EVO in Festa brings the 16th-century Castello Caracciolo and the historic village to life for two days, turning them into a grand collective narrative dedicated to freshly pressed 'green gold.' It is a time when the community opens the doors of its mills and shares the ancient ritual of milling with visitors, amidst intense aromas, tastings, and rural culture.

From the Torre Centuriona to the Mill

Since its early editions, the event has chosen an evocative theme, «From the Torre Centuriona to the Mill», which links the history of the territory to its olive-growing vocation. The local mills open their gates to visitors with a program rich in seminars, pomological exhibitions, tastings, screenings, and themed recreational activities. It is an opportunity to get a close look at the work of the millers and the entire EVO oil supply chain, from olive to bottle.

A program of mills, tastings, and rural culture

The heart of the festival beats between the Castello Caracciolo and the «Dino Bianco» Museum of Rural Civilization, the guardian of Sammichele's rural memory. Over the two days, the schedule includes:

• guided tours of the town's historic mills;
• tasting stands featuring monocultivar oils and local gastronomic specialties;
• oil tasting courses led by experts;
• showcooking dedicated to traditional cuisine, such as onion pie and the local 'focaccia a libro';
• creative workshops for children;
• pomological exhibitions, a market, and evening concerts.

The event is promoted by the Municipality of Sammichele di Bari together with the National Association of Oil Cities, with the involvement of the Fiera del Levante, the Puglia Region's Department of Agriculture, the Pro Loco, the Slow Food Presidium, and Assoproli.

Towards Evolio Expo

In recent years, the Olive Oil Festival has also become a showcase for Evolio Expo, the Mediterranean fair dedicated to extra virgin olive oil held at the Fiera del Levante in Bari. The conference hosted in the hall of the Castello Caracciolo brings together producers, institutions, and supply chain representatives to take stock of the Apulian olive sector, one of the most important in Italy.

Sammichele di Bari, an olive oil village in the Metropolitan City of Bari

A small town in the Metropolitan City of Bari, in Puglia, Sammichele di Bari is famous for its Museum of Rural Civilization and its strong agri-food identity. The Olive Oil Festival fits into this tradition and offers visitors the chance to discover an authentic village in the Bari hinterland, away from the more crowded circuits, during the most evocative time of the olive season: the harvest and the first pressing.

Dates for the 2026 edition

The dates for the 2026 edition of the Olive Oil Festival - EVO in Festa have not yet been officially announced. Based on previous editions, the event is traditionally scheduled for the last weekend of November at the Castello Caracciolo in Sammichele di Bari. The detailed program will be communicated by the organizers in the weeks leading up to the event.