Sagra della Polenta di Santa Maria in Selva
The golden corn of the Marche region celebrates in Treia, across two September weekends
About Sagra della Polenta
A village festival that smells of polenta
In Santa Maria in Selva, a hamlet of the Municipality of Treia, in the heart of the province of Macerata (Marche), the Sagra della Polenta is much more than a gastronomic festival: it is an identity-defining event that has drawn visitors from all over the region for decades. Founded in 1978 on the initiative of Don Giuseppe (Peppe) Branchesi, who was its soul and organizer until 2020, the event traditionally takes place over two weekends in September and has made polenta its symbol, the "golden treasure" celebrated by volunteers in yellow uniforms.
Polenta and its sauces
The heart of the festival is the polenta served at the food stalls with traditional sauces: the white version with sausage, the red one with duck sauce, and the variation with salt cod. Completing the menu are grilled meats, polenta fritters, typical desserts, and local wines. The organizing committee's capacity is legendary: during national gatherings of Polenta Makers, tens of thousands of dishes were served in Treia, and even today, the queues of food lovers are long.
Music, engines, and tradition
In addition to food, the festival offers a rich entertainment program: evening concerts with dance orchestras and local bands, Marche folklore shows, card tournaments (burraco and briscola), the charity raffle, exhibitions, and markets of local products. There are also events dedicated to motors, with rallies of vintage Vespas and Fiat 500s, and to sport, with the historic national amateur cycling race that winds through the Macerata hills.
A heritage of the Marche
Santa Maria in Selva is among the founding members of the Association of Polenta Makers of Italy, a recognition that testifies to the passion and quality of a community that has transformed a humble peasant dish into a symbol of hospitality. Visiting the Sagra della Polenta means experiencing the authenticity of a Marche village festival, where conviviality and the "joy of being together" are as important as the food.
Sagra della Polenta — edition 2026
For the 50th edition, scheduled for September 2026, the Sagra della Polenta di Santa Maria in Selva celebrates half a century of history. The anniversary will be dedicated to the founder Don Peppe Branchesi and to Genesio Medori, creator of the festival's historic photographic exhibitions. In March 2026, the "polentari" in yellow uniforms brought their polenta to the Tipicità Festival in Fermo, serving 600 plates in two hours, a taste of the enthusiasm that will accompany the fiftieth-anniversary edition.
Programme Sagra della Polenta 2026
The 50th edition will be held in September 2026, following tradition over two weekends. The exact dates and detailed program will be announced by the Organizing Committee and the Municipality of Treia in the weeks preceding the event.
Based on previous editions, one can expect:
- Food stalls with polenta served with traditional sauces (sausage, duck, salt cod), grilled meats, polenta fritters, desserts, and local wines
- Evening concerts with dance orchestras and local bands
- Marche folklore shows
- Vintage vehicle rallies (Vespa and Fiat 500)
- The traditional national amateur cycling race
- Charity raffle, card tournaments, and local product markets
Highlights Sagra della Polenta 2026
Prices Sagra della Polenta 2026
Practical information — Sagra della Polenta
How to get there
Santa Maria in Selva is a hamlet of Treia (MC), in the Macerata hinterland. By car, it can be reached from the SS77 Val di Chienti highway, exiting at Macerata and continuing towards Treia; exits from the highway are also convenient for those arriving from the Adriatic coast (Civitanova Marche) or from Rome. The nearest train station is Macerata.
Admission and hours
Admission to the festival is free. Food stalls generally open in the evening (around 7 PM) and, on holidays, also for lunch (from 12 PM). You only pay for what you consume.
Tips
During peak weekends, attendance is high: it's advisable to arrive early to avoid queues at the stalls. For the exact dates and daily program of the current edition, it is recommended to consult the channels of the Municipality of Treia and the organizing committee.
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Where does it take place — Sagra della Polenta
Santa Maria in Selva