Saint Mark the Evangelist Festival and Festival of Crespelle

A Village Festival in the Heart of Piceno

Every year, around April 25th, the small hamlet of Caselle in the Municipality of Maltignano (Province of Ascoli Piceno, Marche) gathers around its patron saint for the Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist. It's one of those Marche village festivals where the religious and convivial dimensions coexist naturally: in the morning, the procession and the band; in the evening, the food stalls and music in Piazza San Marco. The culinary heart of the event is the Crespelle Festival, which gives the event its popular name and attracts many visitors from the surrounding Ascoli region over the three days.

The Religious Program

The most solemn moment is the Holy Mass followed by the procession through the streets of Caselle with the statue and relic of Saint Mark the Evangelist, accompanied by the notes of the "Città di Acquasanta Terme" Brass Band and a fireworks display. On Saturday, the band tours the village streets from the morning, while in the afternoon, a special blessing with the relic is dedicated to children.

The Civil Part: Festival, Music, and Traditions

Alongside the religious celebrations, a packed civil program unfolds. It begins with the AperiParty and evening musical performances—tribute concerts that have honored Lucio Battisti and Jovanotti over the years—continuing with the opening of the Crespelle Festival, food stalls offering dishes from Piceno cuisine, entertainment, and shows for the little ones. Popular traditions are not forgotten: the briscola card game tournament, the exhibition of vintage Vespas, the wheel of fortune, the charity raffle, and "as we were" screenings that recount the village's memory. A touch of sport comes with the Alessandro J.E. Cappelli Memorial Trophy, now in its seventh edition in 2026.

A Community Coming Together

Organized by the local committee with the patronage of the Municipality of Maltignano, the festival involves local associations, including the municipal AVIS of Ascoli Piceno with its information booth. More than a tourist event, it is the main gathering of the year for Caselle: the occasion when the entire hamlet, and with it the Municipality of Maltignano, comes together around its identity, good food, and devotion to Saint Mark.