Serino PGI Chestnut Festival

The oldest festival in Irpinia

Every autumn, the Municipality of Serino, in the province of Avellino, celebrates the fruit that has shaped the economic and social history of its valley: the chestnut. The Serino PGI Chestnut Festival is considered the oldest event in Irpinia—reaching its 48th edition in 2025—and remains one of the most anticipated food and wine gatherings in all of Campania, drawing tens of thousands of visitors over a single weekend in October.

Rivottoli, the village that transforms

The heart of the festival is the hamlet of Rivottoli, a small village at the foot of the Terminio massif, where Piazza Cicarelli and the surrounding alleys fill with stalls, vendors, braziers, and festive lights. Organized by the Pro Loco Serino, the event involves local associations, volunteers, the Youth Forum, and local producers. It is a true community effort, which gives the festival an authentic character, far from the standardized formulas of large-scale fairs.

The Serino PGI Chestnut

The chestnuts of Serino were awarded PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status in 2018, a milestone that provided protection and visibility to a historic crop from the Sabato Valley. Here, the chestnut is more than just an agricultural product: for generations, it was the 'bread of the woods,' a staple food for farming families and an economic resource for entire communities. The festival was born as a thanksgiving celebration to promote this heritage, which still provides work for numerous local businesses today.

What to eat

The food stalls offer traditional Irpinian cuisine, with most dishes creatively centered around the chestnut:

• Roasted chestnuts prepared in the spectacular virulera gigante, the massive rotating brazier that has become the symbol of the event
• Traditional soups and pasta dishes
• Roasted pork, oven-baked potatoes with caciocavallo podolico cheese, and pancetta
• Pizzas, gourmet sandwiches, and street food snacks
• Chestnut-based desserts, boiled chestnuts, and local baked goods
• Irpinian wines and local craft beers
• Dedicated gluten-free and lactose-free stations

Beyond the table: trekking, e-bikes, and the museum

The festival is also an opportunity to explore the woods surrounding the town. Recent editions have featured guided hikes through ancient chestnut groves led by local trekking groups, e-bike tours through forests and historic sites, chestnut-picking experiences in the woods, and visits to the Chestnut Museum, curated by the Serino Youth Forum to showcase the tools and trades of traditional chestnut farming.

Folk music, crafts, and atmosphere

The evenings are filled with folk music and traditional performances: tammorre drums, accordions, and traditional Campanian dances accompany visitors as they stroll between the stalls. The experience is completed by craft exhibitions, local produce stands, live cooking demonstrations, conferences on the chestnut supply chain, and activities for families and children.

When to go and how to experience it

The event is traditionally held in October, when the harvest is in full swing and the woods around Serino turn shades of red and gold. Admission is free, and the format is that of a classic village festival: you arrive, buy tickets at the stalls, and eat outdoors with friends. We recommend arriving early, especially on Saturday and Sunday, as crowds are significant and parking in the Rivottoli area fills up quickly.