Regina Chestnut Festival

The Queen Chestnut of the Picentini Mountains

In Calabritto, a town in the Upper Sele Valley in the province of Avellino, the chestnut is more than just a product: it is the foundation of a rural economy that for generations has tied the town to its chestnut groves, stretching across the slopes of the Picentini Mountains. The Regina Chestnut Festival was born from this bond, and every autumn it brings back to Piazza Matteotti the glowing braziers, the scent of roasted chestnuts, and all the dishes that chestnut flour makes possible. This is not an event manufactured for tourists; it is the celebration with which the town marks the end of the harvest season.

The 'tirata' of Calabritto, a De.Co. pasta

The festival's signature dish is the tirata, a handmade pasta made with chestnut flour and served with sausage ragù. It is a strictly local preparation that the Municipality has recognized with the De.Co. (Municipal Denomination of Origin), a label that certifies its authenticity and connection to the territory. Alongside the 'tirata', the food stalls have always offered other specialties of autumn Irpinian cuisine:

• Roasted chestnuts cooked over braziers in the square
• Pork stew with chestnuts
• Grilled sausage and porchetta
• Caciocavallo impiccato (hanged cheese), melted over the flame
• Red wines of Irpinia served by the glass

The Guinness-sized 'castagnaccio'

One of the most anticipated moments is the presentation of the massive castagnaccio prepared by hand by the women of Calabritto, a dessert of such scale that the organizers now propose it as a Guinness World Record attempt. Traditional chestnut pastries revolve around this cake: smaller 'castagnacci', tarts, and, in the 2025 edition, a 'zeppola di San Giuseppe' filled with chestnut cream and chocolate, created specifically for the festival.

Folk music and school awards

The evening is not just about gastronomy. The stage in Piazza Matteotti hosts folk music concerts—in 2025, it featured Tonuccio Corona's group, who also presented a traditional dance dedicated to the harvest, 'lu rezzu e la castagna'. Preceding the music is the 'Regina Chestnut' award, reserved for local schools: a way to involve the youngest in the story of the chestnut grove and the work behind it.

A festival by volunteers

The organization is entrusted to the 'Aurora' Public Assistance of Calabritto, the volunteer association that has managed the festival from A to Z for over a decade, from the stalls to the square's logistics. It is a choice that shows: popular prices, homemade cooking, and an atmosphere of a community celebration rather than a commercial event.

Calabritto, the Sele, and the village of Quaglietta

The Municipality of Calabritto has just over two thousand inhabitants and lies at an altitude of about 480 meters, in a 56 km² territory crossed by the Sele River and the Zagarone stream, famous for its sequence of waterfalls, among the highest in Irpinia. A few kilometers from the center is Quaglietta, a medieval village with a castle that testifies to the Lombard presence in these valleys, while at higher altitudes, one can reach the sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Nevi. Those arriving for the festival will find an excellent starting point for excursions in this less-traveled part of Campania.

When it takes place

The event traditionally takes place between the end of October and November 1st: the 12th edition was held on October 28 and 29, 2023, the 13th on October 31 and November 1, 2024, and the 14th on Saturday, November 1, 2025. No official date has been released for 2026 yet: it is best to follow the channels of the 'Aurora' Public Assistance and the Municipality of Calabritto in the weeks leading up to All Saints' Day.