Potato Festival

A new fair in the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese

The Potato Festival was established in 2026 in the village of Aiello-Campomanfoli, within the municipality of Castel San Giorgio, in the province of Salerno, Campania. The event takes place at the Maria SS. di Costantinopoli Community Center on Via Valesana, the same venue that hosts the historic Salt Cod Festival every summer. The inaugural edition was held from Friday, June 26th to Sunday, June 28th, 2026, immediately following the conclusion of its "sister" event—a deliberate choice that extends the local festival season by a week and keeps the parish center buzzing for two consecutive weekends.

The potato: the star of the table

The theme is clear from the name. The potato, a humble staple of Campanian peasant cooking, is showcased at the food stalls in many different ways, from fried delicacies to traditional family recipes. Alongside potato-based dishes, other local specialties are available, with a bar service offering beer and wine. It is simple, hearty, popular food served at outdoor communal tables: the classic formula of the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese fairs, where the food is primarily a pretext for coming together and where proceeds support community activities.

Three evenings of music and dance

The culinary experience is complemented by a performance program spanning all three nights, with plenty of room for local dance schools and Italian pop music. The schedule for the first edition featured:

• Friday, June 26th — Performance by students of the ASD Friends Dance school, followed by the "Febbre a 90" music and entertainment show.
• Saturday, June 27th — Choreographies by Enza Dream Dance, a performance by Rayan Sansivieri, 2026 national dance champion, followed by the Alfonso D'Amora Show and, to close, a "Tribute Show" concert featuring the repertoires of Jovanotti, Max Pezzali, and Cesare Cremonini.
• Sunday, June 28th — Live concert by the Pakosasso Band and the final lottery draw.

The lottery is worth noting: tickets for the Potato Festival were combined with those of the preceding Salt Cod Festival, so that both events concluded with a single draw. This detail speaks volumes about the bond between the two events and the fact that, in Aiello-Campomanfoli, they are perceived as two acts of the same celebration.

The Community Center and local associations

Behind the event are the communities of Aiello and Campomanfoli, the same ones that organize the Salt Cod Festival and more, which reached its 28th edition in 2026. The Maria SS. di Costantinopoli Community Center is the heart of the village: this is where parties are organized, stalls are set up, and families gather. The Potato Festival was born from this volunteer network, which over the years has also created the Onion Festival, another fair in the same village.

Castel San Giorgio, a town of festivals

Castel San Giorgio is a municipality in the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese, at the northwestern edge of the province of Salerno, near the border with the province of Naples and the Vesuvius area. The territory is organized into numerous villages, each with its own identity and calendar: from the Grand Carnival, which brings the streets to life every year with floats and masquerade groups, to summer food fairs, and the Feast of the Madonna of Costantinopoli between Campomanfoli and Aiello. The Potato Festival fits into this mosaic as the latest arrival, with the stated ambition of becoming a fixed appointment at the end of June.

Why visit

Those looking for an authentic fair without tourist filters will find exactly that: popular prices, home-style cooking, outdoor tables, and a stage featuring local dancers and bands. It is an event designed first and foremost for the residents of the village and neighboring towns, and for this very reason, it offers a sincere glimpse of Campanian summer social life. Admission is free, and the evening format makes it suitable for families with children.