Sirignano Cotoletta Festival

A festival that tells the story of the Baianese region through its food

In the heart of the Baianese area, at the gates of the Partenio Regional Park, the small town of Sirignano (Avellino province, Campania) transforms for three nights into a great gathering of taste and community. The Sirignano Cotoletta Festival, organized by the Pro Loco Sant'Andrea with the patronage of UNPLI and the collaboration of the municipality, has become one of the most anticipated food and wine events in this corner of Irpinia: in 2026, it reached its sixteenth edition, confirming a rare continuity for a local village event.

The signature dish: the 'cotoletta sirignanese'

The absolute star is the cotoletta sirignanese, prepared following the recipe passed down by local housewives. The secret lies in the breading, designed to respect the flavors and aromas that tell the agricultural soul of the territory: not just any cutlet, but a preparation that has always played a prominent role in home cooking and festive occasions here. At the festival, it is served primarily in a bun, accompanied by side dishes, in the most convivial way possible — the kind you eat standing up, in the square, among friends and family.

The menu

Around the cutlet, the Pro Loco builds a menu that is a small compendium of popular Campanian cuisine:

• Gnocchi with tomato sauce, the first course to start the tasting
• Bun with cutlet and sides, the specialty that gives the festival its name
• Eggplant parmigiana and fried montanare
• Caciocavallo impiccato, melted over embers and served hot
• Boards of local cold cuts and cheeses
• French fries and Nutella strips to end on a sweet note
• Water and wine to accompany

The stalls open every evening from 8:00 PM to midnight: an evening festival designed for the cooler hours and post-dinner strolls.

Live music and square atmosphere

Animating the three nights is live music, with concerts and entertainment that make the experience suitable for all ages: families, young people, and food lovers gather in the same space. In previous editions, the lineup has hosted bands from the Irpinian and Campanian folk scene — in 2025, for example, the Saturday evening was entrusted to the group Lu Mànera. The stage is set up in the square, next to the stalls, so that the tasting and the concert are one and the same.

The Pro Loco charity bazaar

Alongside the food stalls, the Pro Loco Sant'Andrea sets up a charity bazaar every year: the proceeds are used to support the charitable initiatives and projects that the association promotes in the area throughout the year. It is a feature that well explains the spirit of the event, born and grown as a local volunteer enterprise rather than a commercial event.

Sirignano, the town and its context

Sirignano has just under three thousand inhabitants and is located at an altitude of about 270 meters, on the border with Avella, Baiano, Mugnano del Cardinale, Quadrelle, and Summonte. The fiefdom was historically linked to the Caracciolo family, who held the ducal title there, and the patron saint is Saint Andrew the Apostle, celebrated on November 30th — the same dedication as the Pro Loco that organizes the festival. Piazza Aniello Colucci, where the event takes place, is the town's main square, overlooked by the town hall.

Why it's worth the trip

It is a small, free festival without frills: you arrive, eat well at village-festival prices, listen to music, and stay in the square until midnight. For those visiting Irpinia or the nearby Partenio Park, it is the most direct opportunity to taste a specialty not found elsewhere and to see how a small Campanian town knows how to showcase its gastronomic identity.