Eel Festival - San Rocco Feast
The eel feast in the hamlet of Saletta di Copparo
About Eel Festival of Saletta
A village festival that smells of eel
The Eel Festival - San Rocco Feast is one of the most cherished summer events in Saletta, a small hamlet in the Municipality of Copparo, in the heart of the lower plain of the Province of Ferrara, in Emilia-Romagna. For almost two weeks in August, the village gathers around the San Michele Arcangelo Parish Park, on Via Piazza, where a covered gastronomic stand becomes the pulsating heart of the event.
Eel, the queen of the Ferrarese table
The absolute star is eel, a symbolic fish of the gastronomic tradition of Ferrara and the nearby Valli di Comacchio. Here it is served fried, grilled, and in the famous risotto, alongside other dishes that tell the story of the cuisine of these lands: pinzin with cured meats, seafood appetizers, seafood salad and shrimp cocktail, cappelletti and pumpkin cappellacci, fried and mixed grilled fish, as well as meat options for those who prefer them. There is also an aperitif corner, perfect for starting the evening.
Between devotion and community
The feast originated around the feast of the patron saint San Rocco and maintains a strong link with the parish and village life. It is an event entirely built by volunteers: every year over a hundred volunteers from the community of Saletta work at the stoves, at the tables, and in the organization, making collective work the true strength of the event.
Music and evenings under the stars
Alongside good food, every evening is enlivened by live music, DJ sets, and entertainment: dance orchestras, tribute bands, pop, funk, and rock groups take turns on stage to accompany dinners and after-dinner events. It is a festival designed for togetherness, where families, young people, and visitors from neighboring municipalities gather for a few evenings of good food and cheer in the Copparo hamlet.
Eel Festival of Saletta — edition 2026
2026 Edition
The 2026 edition of the Eel Festival - San Rocco Feast is scheduled in Saletta di Copparo (FE) from August 5 to 16, 2026, with the gastronomic stand opening from 7:00 PM in the San Michele Arcangelo Parish Park, Via Piazza. On the menu again are fried and grilled eel, eel risotto, seafood appetizers, cappelletti and cappellacci, fried and grilled dishes, as well as meat options and the aperitif corner, all prepared by volunteers from Pro Loco Saletta APS.
The detailed schedule of musical evenings and entertainment for 2026 will be announced by the organizers in the weeks preceding the event, as is tradition, on the festival's Facebook page and Instagram profile.
Programme Eel Festival of Saletta 2026
The detailed program of evenings (live music, DJ sets, and entertainment) for the 2026 edition has not yet been published. As every year, each evening at the gastronomic stand is accompanied by music and entertainment; the complete schedule will be announced by Pro Loco Saletta in the weeks before the feast.
Stand opening: every evening from 7:00 PM.
Highlights Eel Festival of Saletta 2026
- Fried and grilled eel, and eel risotto, specialties of the Ferrarese tradition
- Evenings with live music, DJ sets, and entertainment
- Aperitif corner and seafood and meat cuisine
- Event entirely run by volunteers from the hamlet
Prices Eel Festival of Saletta 2026
Practical information — Eel Festival of Saletta
Where
Saletta di Copparo (FE), San Michele Arcangelo Parish Park, Via Piazza 17 — CAP 44034.
Hours
Gastronomic stand opens from 7:00 PM.
Reservations and contacts
Reservations accepted: tel. 351 5356005 (approximately from 10 AM to 9 PM) — e-mail [email protected]. Updates on dates and program on the Facebook page "Festa dell'anguilla - Saletta - Fe" and on Instagram (@festa_anguilla).
Good to know
The event is organized by Pro Loco Saletta APS with the patronage of the Municipality of Copparo. Dates and program may be subject to change: it is advisable to check with the organizers before traveling.
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Where does it take place — Eel Festival of Saletta
Parco Parrocchiale San Michele Arcangelo
Via Piazza 17, Saletta, 44034 Copparo