Patronal Feast of Saint James the Apostle and Saint Anthony of Padua
Two days of faith, ventricina, and cavatelli in the Croatian village of Molise
About Patronal Feast of San Felice
The feast of the Croatian village of Molise
Every summer, San Felice del Molise, in the province of Campobasso, renews its patronal feast. The village, known to its inhabitants as Filič, is one of the three communities with a Croatian-Molisan language in Italy, and this identity is also reflected in the traditions of the feast, intertwined with the Slavic-Molisan cuisine of the area.
Two days of faith and taste
The celebrations focus on mid-July. The first evening is dedicated to the Zuppetta Festival, while the second is enlivened by the Ventricina Party in Piazza Cappella: the star is ventricina, the village's symbolic cured meat, prepared according to the ancient Croatian tradition. You can enjoy handmade cavatelli with ventricina sauce, skewers, and ventricina burgers, seasonal side dishes, dessert, watermelon, and wine.
Music, community, and Croatian traditions
The evenings combine good food with live music and bouncy castles for the little ones, in a festive atmosphere that involves the entire community. The patronal feast is also a time for many emigrated San Felice residents to return, connected to the village's roots and its typical dishes such as sagne mbottite and the dessert bukshkarun.
Patronal Feast of San Felice — edition 2026
In 2026, San Felice del Molise renews its mid-July patronal feast. The traditional program alternates religious rites in honor of the patron saints with gastronomic evenings: the Zuppetta Festival and the Ventricina Party in Piazza Cappella, featuring handmade cavatelli with ventricina sauce, skewers, live music, and entertainment for children.
The exact dates and detailed program for the 2026 edition will be released by the Parish Festivals Committee closer to the event.
Programme Patronal Feast of San Felice 2026
The traditional program unfolds over two evenings in Piazza Cappella:
- First evening — Zuppetta Festival with evening opening of the stalls.
- Second evening — Ventricina Party from 8:00 PM: handmade cavatelli with ventricina sauce, skewers and ventricina burgers, seasonal side dishes, dessert, watermelon, wine, and water. Live music and bouncy castles for children.
Dates and detailed program for the 2026 edition to be updated, released by the Parish Festivals Committee.
Highlights Patronal Feast of San Felice 2026
The Ventricina Party with cavatelli in ventricina sauce and the Zuppetta Festival, expressions of the Croatian-Molisan cuisine of Filič.
Prices Patronal Feast of San Felice 2026
Practical information — Patronal Feast of San Felice
How to get there
San Felice del Molise can be reached by car from the Adriatic coast, heading inland into the lower Molise region, in the province of Campobasso. The festivities take place in the historic center, with Piazza Cappella as the focal point.
Tips
Free admission; food can be purchased at the stalls. The exact dates and program are announced by the Parish Festivals Committee closer to the event.
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Where does it take place — Patronal Feast of San Felice
Piazza Cappella
Piazza Cappella, 86030 San Felice del Molise