Santa Maria in Selva Polenta Festival
The yellow gold of the Marche region celebrates in Treia, over two weekends in September
About Polenta Festival
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 Polenta Festival is much more than a gastronomic fair: it is an event of identity that for decades has attracted visitors from all over the region. 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 "yellow treasure" celebrated by volunteers in yellow uniforms.
Polenta and its sauces
The heart of the festival is the polenta served at the food stands with traditional sauces: the white version with sausage, the red one with duck sauce, and the variant with cod. Completing the menu are grilled meats, polenta fritters, typical desserts, and local wines. The committee's organizational capacity is legendary: on the occasion of national Polenta Makers rallies, tens of thousands of dishes have been served in Treia, and even today, distributions attract long queues of food lovers.
Music, engines, and tradition
In addition to food, the festival offers a rich entertainment program: musical evenings with dance orchestras and local bands, Marche folklore shows, card tournaments (burraco and briscola), the charity raffle, exhibitions, and markets of typical 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 crosses the Macerata hills.
A heritage of the Marche
Santa Maria in Selva is among the founding members of the Italian Polenta Makers Association, a recognition that testifies to the passion and quality of a community that has managed to transform a humble peasant dish into a symbol of hospitality. Visiting the Polenta Festival means experiencing the authenticity of a Marche village festival, where conviviality and the "joy of being together" are as important as the food.
Polenta Festival — edition 2026
For the 50th edition, scheduled for September 2026, the Santa Maria in Selva Polenta Festival celebrates half a century of history. The anniversary will be dedicated to the founder Don Peppe Branchesi and 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 Polenta Festival 2026
The 50th edition will be held in September 2026, traditionally 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, you can expect:
- Food stands with polenta served with traditional sauces (sausage, duck, cod), grilled meats, polenta fritters, desserts, and local wines
- Musical evenings with dance orchestras and local bands
- Marche folklore shows
- Motor rallies (vintage Vespas and Fiat 500s)
- The traditional national amateur cycling race
- Charity raffle, card tournaments, and markets of typical products
Highlights Polenta Festival 2026
Prices Polenta Festival 2026
Practical information — Polenta Festival
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 by exiting at Macerata and continuing towards Treia; exits from the dual carriageway 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 stands 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 stands. For exact dates and the 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 — Polenta Festival
Santa Maria in Selva