Pinarella di Cervia Cuttlefish Festival

The festival that opens the cuttlefish season

The Cuttlefish Festival of Pinarella di Cervia, in the Province of Ravenna (Emilia-Romagna), is one of the most beloved events of early spring on the Romagna Riviera. For over twenty years, it has marked the official opening of the cuttlefish season, the mollusk that in March returns to be the protagonist of the tables and nets of Adriatic fishermen. The event is historically linked to the Saint Joseph's Fair, the spring fair that has enlivened the seaside village of Pinarella for generations.

A large Romagna cuisine stand

The heart of the festival is the gastronomic stand set up at the Pinarella Shopping Center, along Viale Tritone: a covered and heated structure with about 500 seats, designed to welcome visitors even on the still cool March evenings. In the kitchen, cuttlefish is the absolute queen, offered in many traditional recipes: cuttlefish with peas, cuttlefish Romagna-style, seafood risotto, cuttlefish ink lasagna, baby cuttlefish skewers, and the classic Adriatic mixed fried fish, with shrimp and squid. There are also seafood appetizers, side dishes, and Romagna desserts to finish the meal.

Music, dancing, and tradition

Every evening, dinner is accompanied by live music: folk orchestras, local bands, and traditional Romagna dance shows, with the characteristic sciucaren (whip crackers) and folklore groups that liven up the square. On weekends, the festival is enriched by the Saint Joseph's Fair and the craft market, among the stalls that flank the seafood cuisine.

A festival also for charity

Organized by the association Antichi Sapori di Romagna, the Cuttlefish Festival is also an event for solidarity: in past editions, the proceeds have been allocated to local projects, from the safety of the Pinarella pine forest to donations of equipment for nursing homes and local parishes. A way to combine good food, village festivals, and attention to the community of the Municipality of Cervia.