Salsiccia Festival

A festival dedicated to the Casalbore sausage

The Salsiccia Festival is one of the most anticipated culinary events of the summer in Casalbore, a town of just over 1,500 residents in the province of Avellino, in the heart of inland Campania. The festival was created to celebrate a product that is more than just a cured meat here—it is a piece of peasant identity. The local sausage is prepared according to recipes passed down through generations and is instantly recognizable for its seasoning of wild fennel and flakes of chili pepper, offering a perfect balance of sweet and spicy notes.

The festival is part of the Estate Casalborese, the summer calendar organized annually by the municipal administration and local associations, blending music, folk traditions, and gastronomy. It is not an isolated event, but rather the most delicious highlight of a season that keeps the village vibrant throughout the month of August.

The village of Casalbore, between Irpinia and the Miscano Valley

Casalbore sits at an altitude of about 600 meters, at the northern edge of the Avellino province, along the ancient Tratturo Pescasseroli-Candela sheep track and not far from the Roman Via Traiana. Its location tells much of its history: a land of passage for shepherds, pilgrims, and merchants, where meat preservation and butchery were a necessity long before they became a culinary pleasure.

Visitors arriving for the festival will find a village worth exploring: the 12th-century Norman Tower, the Cave of San Michele with its chapel dedicated to the Archangel, the Macchia Porcara archaeological site with the remains of a Samnite temple, and the surrounding Miscano Valley, home to olive groves that produce the Irpinia - Colline dell'Ufita extra virgin olive oil, made from the Ravece cultivar.

What to eat at the festival

The menu naturally revolves around the sausage, offered in several versions to satisfy every palate:

• Grilled, served with homemade bread and seasonal side dishes;
• In a sandwich, the most convenient option for those who want to eat while strolling through the stalls;
• Paired with local cheeses, Irpinian wines, and craft beers;
• With options designed for vegetarians and children, ensuring the evening is truly for everyone.

The quality of the raw ingredients is the real strength: selected meats, natural casing, and slow curing that gives the Casalbore sausage that signature scent of fennel, which you can smell from several meters away from the grills.

Music, dancing, and markets

The Salsiccia Festival is more than just a food event; it is a true village celebration. The stalls open in the late afternoon, and the historic center transforms until late at night with live music, folk dancing, and roving performances that move from square to square. Alongside the food stations, you will find craft markets and local product stalls, while areas dedicated to children's entertainment and relaxation zones complete the experience.

It is the kind of evening that is still lived genuinely in Irpinia, without filters: shared tables, different generations meeting, and the feeling of being a guest in a town rather than just a spectator at an event.

Looking ahead to the 2026 edition

The most recent documented edition took place on Saturday, August 2, 2025. For 2026, the organizers have not yet released the official date or the detailed program. The festival traditionally takes place in the first half of August, coinciding with the town's summer festivities. Before setting off, it is advisable to check for updates on the channels of the Municipality of Casalbore and local associations.

Why it is worth visiting

Because it is one of those festivals where the featured product is truly local and not just a pretext. Because Casalbore, with its tower and valley views, offers a stop that goes beyond the plate. And because Irpinia, often overlooked in favor of the Campanian coast, tells its story best this way: around a grill, a glass of wine, and a square full of people.