Porcini Mushroom Spaghetti Festival

A festival born from the woods of Irpinia

In Salza Irpina, a village of just a few hundred inhabitants in the province of Avellino, Campania, the Porcini Mushroom Spaghetti Festival is the highlight of the summer. The event has now surpassed forty editions: the fortieth was celebrated in August 2024, and the forty-first in August 2025. A rare milestone for a small town in the Campanian hinterland, made possible by the volunteer work of the organizing committee and local associations, who rebuild kitchens, long tables, and the stage from scratch every year.

The signature dish: spaghetti and porcini

The undisputed star is the porcini mushroom from the woods surrounding the village, served over spaghetti prepared according to tradition with local ingredients and cooked to order. The menu surrounding the main dish showcases the best of August Irpinian cuisine:

• Spaghetti with porcini mushrooms, the specialty that gives the festival its name;
• Omelets with porcini and pizzilli, the traditional fried dough from Salza;
• Grilled meats and fried foods prepared at the stalls;
• Homemade desserts made by the local women;
• Aglianico, the iconic red wine of Irpinia, to accompany the meal.

The dining area is covered and equipped with tables, and the food stalls remain open until late in the evening: guests eat seated, enjoying the slow, convivial rhythm of a village festival.

Folk music, comedy, and crafts

Each evening kicks off around 7:00 PM and continues with live performances. In 2025, at the municipal amphitheater on Via Tufello, the lineup featured MARMY on August 8th, 'E Figli 'e Masaniello with The Master Bottari on the 9th, and a concert by SALT on the closing night of August 10th. The previous edition, hosted in Piazza Michele Capozzi, featured comedian Massimo Cozzolino and local folk music groups. Next to the stage, an exhibition area is reserved for artisans and hobbyists, showcasing handmade products and local specialties: a great way for visitors to discover small-scale Irpinian production.

Salza Irpina, the ancient village of salt

Perched at an altitude of about 550 meters on a territory of just under five square kilometers, Salza Irpina is one of the smallest municipalities in the province of Avellino. The name is traditionally linked to salt, and the village retains the compact layout of inland hamlets, with houses overlooking chestnut groves. The patron saint is the Madonna della Neve, celebrated on August 5th, just a few days before the festival. The local calendar is marked by other popular gastronomic events: the Asparagus and Truffle Festival in spring and the Chestnut Festival in early October, another historic event in the village.

Who organizes it

The festival is promoted by the Maria SS. delle Grazie Festival Committee, supported by the Municipality of Salza Irpina, the Pro Loco Ciao Salza, and the Youth Forum. It is an entirely volunteer-run operation: proceeds from the stalls support the committee's activities and community initiatives.

When it takes place

The event traditionally falls in August, spanning three consecutive days: August 16-18 in 2024, and August 8-10 in 2025. Dates for the new edition are usually announced close to the summer via the organizing committee's social media channels and the local Irpinian press.