Saint Martin's Summer Festival

A rustic celebration in the heart of the Agro Atellano

The Saint Martin's Summer Festival is one of the most vibrant and popular autumn events in the Municipality of Sant'Arpino, located in the province of Caserta. The name evokes the brief spell of warmth that, according to popular tradition, arrives around November 11th after the first cold snap—a final 'summer' gifted to farmers before winter sets in. In Campania, as in much of Italy, this moment historically coincided with the end of grape fermentation and the first taste of the new wine, inspiring the festival's motto: 'By Saint Martin's Day, chestnuts and wine.'

Piazza Macrì, the town's living room

Everything takes place in Piazza Macrì, the village's central square, right in front of the town hall. It is the same square that hosts the patronal feast of Saint Elpidius and the traditional rites of the Fujenti; it is the heart of the community, and it is no coincidence that the organizers chose this very spot to revive the Saint Martin's tradition. The evenings are centered around a stage, food stalls, and a lively atmosphere, drawing crowds from neighboring towns in the Atellano area—Succivo, Orta di Atella, Frattaminore, Cesa—and the outskirts of Aversa.

Folk music, 'bottari', and Neapolitan songs

The musical program blends tradition with contemporary songwriting. The rhythmic heart of the festival is provided by the bottari, who strike barrels, vats, and scythes in an ancient practice linked to farm labor: a sharp, hypnotic sound that, in the 2025 edition, was performed by the Compagnia «Suon e Passion». Alongside them, the stage has featured folk groups and names from the contemporary Neapolitan scene, from singer-songwriter Tommaso Primo—who drew a massive crowd in 2025—to the folk band Luna Janara, and groups like Vianova and Lavidio. The inaugural 2024 edition featured Francesco Di Bella, lead singer of 24 Grana, and the traditional Atellano masks performed by the Junior Comics company.

Chestnuts, young wine, and traditional cuisine

The culinary offerings are strictly seasonal and intentionally rustic. At the Piazza Macrì stalls, you will find roasted chestnuts, young wine (two reds and a white in previous editions), pasta and beans, bread and beans, sausage and oil-preserved eggplant sandwiches, skewers, and the famous caciocavallo impiccato—a local cheese hung and melted over embers, served dripping onto bread. This is a menu that doesn't aim for gourmet trends; it tells the story of the Campanian autumn pantry.

A project built by local associations

The event is organized by the Scusate il Ritardo association with the patronage of the Municipality of Sant'Arpino and the collaboration of numerous local groups: Meddiss, Junior Comic, Devoti Sant'Elpidio, Così per scherzo tra di noi, and the Commission for the Feast of Saint Elpidius. The organizers emphasize that the festival is born from the collective work of several local groups, with the stated goal of demonstrating the importance of collaboration and unity. 'Reliving this festival means rediscovering what unites us,' they reiterated at the end of the second edition.

When to go

The Saint Martin's Summer Festival is held in November, around the feast of Saint Martin. The first edition took place on November 16–17, 2024, while the second was held from November 14–16, 2025, spanning three evenings. The festivities begin after dinner and continue late into the night, with the square remaining the focal point. Those looking to discover the less touristy side of Campania, specifically the inland towns north of Naples, will find an authentic, unfiltered, and free festival here, where tradition is not staged for visitors but lived by the locals.