SBiG Datterino Tomato Festival

The celebration of the "red gold" of San Bartolomeo in Galdo

Every year, in mid-August, the center of San Bartolomeo in Galdo turns into a giant open-air dining room for the SBiG Datterino Tomato Festival. The event, which began in 2023 and has grown rapidly, takes place along Via P. Circelli and celebrates the product locals proudly call "red gold": the datterino tomato grown on the hills of the upper Val Fortore, in the province of Benevento, Campania.

This is more than just a passing festival. It is the day the town tells the story of its agriculture: producers at the forefront, stalls filled with homemade preserves and sauces, traditional Sannio dishes, and a sequence of events ranging from a morning conference to late-night dancing.

The De.Co. datterino tomato, a hillside product

The datterino tomato of San Bartolomeo in Galdo has been awarded the De.Co. (Municipal Denomination of Origin) by the local council, a recognition certifying its deep connection to the territory. Its uniqueness lies in the altitude and the method: it is grown above 500 meters — the town center sits at about 600 meters — and dry-farmed, meaning without irrigation, relying solely on the soil and the hillside microclimate.

• Distinct sweetness: cultivation without irrigation concentrates sugars and reduces water content in the fruit.
• Hand-picked and processed quickly to preserve fragrance and freshness in preserves.
• Kitchen versatility: from homemade sauce to bruschetta, from rustic pizza to pasta dishes.

How the day unfolds

The proven format of the first editions alternates gastronomy, sports, culture, and music, with free admission and fixed-price menus served by the organizing committee. These are the recurring elements:

• Morning conference dedicated to the agricultural and economic value of the tomato, featuring administrators, experts, and producers.
• Community lunch "Lunch with the SBiG tomato," featuring bruschetta, pizza, and meatballs.
• Children's workshop on the tomato cycle, from plant to jar.
• The "10 km of the Champion" road race, bringing sports into the heart of the festival.
• Musical aperitif with a DJ set in the late afternoon.
• Dinner with a traditional menu, live concert, and, following that, "The Night of the Tomato" until late.

Together with the Rocky Marciano Festival

The festival is linked to a second identity-defining event in the town, the Rocky Marciano Festival, dedicated to the undefeated world heavyweight champion whose family roots lie in this corner of the Sannio. In mid-August, the festival brings exhibitions, meetings, and the presentation of the Rocky Marciano Award to athletes, artists, associations, and schools; in 2025, an artistic tribute to the boxer was inaugurated in the municipal park, strengthening the bond with the community of Ripa Teatina. The result is a dual celebration where taste, sport, and memory overlap.

An event born from the community

Behind the festival is the Le Feste di SBiG Committee, working in collaboration with the Municipality of San Bartolomeo in Galdo as part of the "Estate Sanbartolomeana" summer program. The volunteers' work is supported by local entities: the ASD SBiG Social Club for the race, the Humana Cooperative for children's activities, and the local Arci for cultural initiatives. It is a model of self-produced festival common in the Campanian hinterland, where such events remain the primary tool for promoting small-scale agricultural production.

The territory: upper Val Fortore

San Bartolomeo in Galdo is the northernmost town in the province of Benevento, overlooking the Fortore valley, a stone's throw from the borders with Puglia and Molise. It is a landscape of ridges, wheat, olive groves, and wind, where datterino cultivation has established itself as a quality alternative and a lever for local identity. Those arriving for the festival will find much more than a menu: a hillside village, its religious history — from the Feast of Maria SS. Incoronata to the patronal feast of Saint Bartholomew on August 24th — and a countryside worth the trip.

What we know about the 2026 edition

As of the writing of this guide, the fourth edition has not yet been officially announced. Some industry portals already indicate August 16, 2026, but mark the date as "to be confirmed": it is therefore advisable to verify the program on the channels of the Municipality of San Bartolomeo in Galdo and the organizing committee before traveling.