Olive Oil Festival (San Carlo)

A village festival dedicated to the Aurunca green gold

The Olive Oil Festival in San Carlo, a hillside village in the municipality of Sessa Aurunca in the province of Caserta, is one of the events that best captures the agricultural identity of the upper Caserta region. For two evenings, Piazza Orticello transforms into a large open-air dining area centered around the iconic product of these hills: extra virgin olive oil, obtained through manual harvesting and cold pressing in local mills. The event is organized by the Pro Loco Sancti Caroli, an association founded to give a voice to the small community of San Carlo and its local products.

The region: Sessa Aurunca, City of Oil

Sessa Aurunca is a member of the National Association of Oil Cities, a recognition that certifies the olive-growing vocation of a territory stretching from the slopes of Roccamonfina to the Garigliano plain. Here, olive cultivation coexists with the viticulture of Falerno, a wine already celebrated by Latin authors, and with buffalo farming on the plains. The oil produced falls within the Olio Campania IGP area: fruity, slightly bitter, and spicy, it is the common thread running through all the festival's tastings.

What to eat

The Pro Loco food stalls offer traditional Aurunca peasant cuisine, featuring dishes rarely found in coastal restaurants. Recurring offerings from past editions include:

• Cazzauottoli, the typical fresh pasta of the Sessa area, served in the traditional style
• Homemade gnocchi
• Crespelle, the essential fried leavened dough from the Campanian tradition
• Soffritto and grilled arrosticini
• Bruschetta and tastings of extra virgin olive oil with local bread, vegetables, legumes, and cheeses

Music, shows, and meetings

The program goes beyond the table: each edition features live concerts by local bands, comedy shows, and open-air dances, often continuing late into the night. Alongside the entertainment, the Pro Loco has always reserved space for public debates: previous editions have discussed the environment, olive grove management, and the production and promotion of oil, with the participation of municipal administrators, agricultural trade associations, and local producers. There is also an exhibition of zero-kilometer local products, small workshops, and activities for children, making the festival family-friendly.

When it takes place

The event usually takes place in early summer: the 2025 edition was held on June 22nd and 23rd, while in previous years dates have fluctuated between June and July. The dates for the next edition have not yet been released by the organizers; it is advisable to follow the social media channels of the Pro Loco Sancti Caroli, which typically publishes the program poster a few weeks in advance.

Why visit

Those looking for the Campania of major tourist events will not find it here. The San Carlo Olive Oil Festival is instead a community festival—free and genuine—where the square of a village with only a few hundred inhabitants becomes the center of the town for two evenings. It is also an excellent excuse to discover Sessa Aurunca: the Roman theater, the Ronaco bridge, the Norman Cathedral with its Cosmatesque mosaic, and the famous Holy Week Rites make this municipality one of the most interesting historic villages in the Campania region.