Our Peasant Flavors Festival

A festival that tells the story of rural Irpinia

I Nostri Sapori Contadini is the end-of-summer festival in Santa Lucia di Serino, a town of just over a thousand residents in the province of Avellino, in the heart of Irpinia and inland Campania. The idea behind it is simple and clearly stated by the organizers: to bring back to the table what was once called cucina povera (peasant cooking), made of humble ingredients that were precious precisely for that reason. For two days, the town turns into a journey through time, where adults and children can rediscover the authentic roots of Irpinian culture through traditional dishes, folk music, art, and moments of devotion.

The dishes of Irpinian peasant cuisine

The menu is the true heart of the event and is prepared by volunteers. In past editions, the stands have offered a peasant recipe book that is now rare to find elsewhere:

• Rape e patate (turnip greens and potatoes), the signature dish of the Irpinian countryside
• Pork with potatoes and pepaine, traditional sun-dried peppers
• Cabbage and bean soup
• Grilled sausages and cotechino
• 'A pasta re mezzane, pennette with sauce, sausage, and mushrooms, served on Sunday
• Hamburgers, french fries, and a corner dedicated to desserts

It is a deliberately simple gastronomic offering, which does not chase street food trends but rather the memory of home kitchens, winter pantries, and the produce from the gardens of the Valle del Sabato.

Music, children, and conviviality

Alongside the stands, the square hosts an entertainment program every year designed for all ages. Previous editions have featured live concerts—including performances by Leo Ferrucci with Mary Corrado—circus shows for children with Circus Pipos, and evenings ending with a DJ set. It is the classic formula of a Campanian village festival: you eat sitting at outdoor tables, stay late, and the celebration involves the entire community.

A festival with a charitable purpose

What truly distinguishes this festival is its goal. The event is organized by the Associazione Cuore Amico ODV, a volunteer group active in Santa Lucia di Serino, and all proceeds are donated to the purchase of a new ambulance serving the town and neighboring municipalities. Eating a plate of turnip greens and potatoes here therefore means making a concrete contribution to a goal that concerns the entire valley: an act of solidarity disguised as a party.

Santa Lucia di Serino and the valley

Santa Lucia di Serino is located about a dozen kilometers from Avellino, along the road that climbs towards Serino and the Picentini Mountains. It is a village linked to the figure of Saint Giuseppe Moscati, the saintly doctor whose family memory the town preserves, and the square named after him is the hub of community life and the festival itself. The territory, rich in springs and chestnut woods, is the same area from which many of the products served at the table come.

When it takes place

The festival is traditionally held in September, over two days spanning a Saturday and Sunday, in Piazza and via San Giuseppe Moscati. The second edition took place on September 21-22, 2024, while the following edition was held on September 20-21, 2025. Dates are announced by the organizing association a few weeks in advance through local Irpinian information channels.