Polletto Festival

The Polletto Festival in Lentella

The Polletto Festival is a staple of the summer season in Lentella, a small village of just over six hundred inhabitants perched on a hill in the Trigno River Valley, in the province of Chieti, lower Abruzzo. Every year, at the beginning of August, the central Piazza Garibaldi transforms into the beating heart of the village for an evening dedicated to grilled chicken and community spirit.

The star: grilled chicken

As the name suggests, the signature dish of the event is grilled chicken, slow-cooked over charcoal grills and served with side dishes and local culinary specialties. The festival is a perfect opportunity to rediscover the genuine flavors of traditional Abruzzese country cooking in a simple, family-friendly setting where the entire village gathers outdoors to dine together under the summer stars.

A village celebration

The Polletto Festival is part of the extensive Estate Lentellese (Lentella Summer) calendar, a series of events that brings the village to life during the summer months with concerts, open-air cinema, dance nights, and other festivals, including the historic Porchetta Festival. The initiative is organized by the Municipality of Lentella in collaboration with the Pro Loco Lentella APS and local associations, who dedicate their time and energy every year to bring the square to life and welcome visitors from the neighboring towns of the Trigno and Vastese valleys.

A village to discover

Attending the Polletto Festival is also a great excuse to visit Lentella, a village known for its Renaissance castle, the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, and the remains of its medieval walls. Nestled in the rolling hills that slope down toward the Adriatic Sea and nearby Vasto, the village offers an authentic glimpse of the most intimate side of Abruzzo, far from the major tourist circuits. The festival is free to enter, with food available for purchase at the stalls.