Porchetta Festival

A young festival in the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese

The Porchetta Festival is one of the most recent culinary highlights on the calendar of Sarno, a town in the Province of Salerno, Campania. The first edition took place in September 2024, initiated by the ETS La Rinascita association, which chose to dedicate four late-summer evenings to one of Italy's most beloved pork delicacies. The positive public response encouraged the organizers to repeat the event the following year, moving it even closer to the city center.

Porchetta takes center stage

The main theme of the festival is, of course, porchetta: deboned pork, seasoned with herbs and salt, and slow-roasted until it achieves a crispy crust and tender, fragrant meat. At the food stalls, it is offered in several versions to satisfy all palates and ages.

• Plated porchetta, sliced to order and served with side dishes
• Stuffed sandwich, the most popular choice for families and younger visitors
• Pairings with local wine, beer, and regional baked goods
• Traditional Campanian desserts and specialties to round off the evening

Music, cabaret, and nightly shows

Alongside the food, the festival focuses heavily on live entertainment: every evening, the stage features concerts, DJ sets, comedy sketches, and performances by local dance schools. The first two editions showcased well-known names from the Campanian music and comedy scene alongside local artists, with evenings lasting until late at night. It is a deliberately popular format designed to bring different generations together in the town square.

From the Fruit and Vegetable Market to the city center

The first edition, held from September 19 to 22, 2024, took place in the large area of the Via San Valentino Fruit and Vegetable Market, with thousands of square meters dedicated to kitchens, seating, rides, and a stage. In 2025, the second edition moved to the local market area on Via Giacomo Matteotti, right in the center: a choice that brought the festival closer to local businesses and made the event more accessible on foot for residents.

Sarno, between springs and the Picentini Mountains

Sarno gives its name to the river of the same name and its famous springs at the foot of the Picentini Mountains, in an agricultural area historically devoted to fruit, vegetables, and tomato processing. The city preserves a medieval castle overlooking the town and a dense network of popular festivals linked to the religious calendar and the harvest season. In this context, the Porchetta Festival has established itself as a secular and convivial late-summer event, capable of attracting visitors from neighboring towns in the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese and the Vesuvius area.

A free event suitable for families

Access to the festival area has always been free: you only pay for what you consume at the stalls, with typical village festival prices. The organization also reserves space for children, with rides, entertainment, and quiet seating areas. It is a great event for a night out if you are vacationing between the coast and Mount Vesuvius and want to experience the most authentic side of the Salerno hinterland.

When it takes place

The event traditionally takes place in the second half of September, between the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. No official dates have been released for the 2026 edition yet; it is best to follow the channels of the Municipality of Sarno and the ETS La Rinascita association, which usually announce the program and guests a few weeks in advance.