Strawberry Festival

A strawberry festival in the heart of Irpinia

The Strawberry Festival is one of the events that kicks off the summer in Ospedaletto d'Alpinolo, a small town in the Province of Avellino, in Campania. The event, organized by the local Pro Loco with the support of the Municipality, takes over the town center for an evening entirely built around a simple, seasonal fruit: the strawberry, the absolute star of the food stalls and especially the pastries prepared by the volunteers.

This is not a large festival with massive stages and ticketed entry, but a village feast in the most authentic sense of the term: stalls set up in the square, outdoor tables, live music, and an entire community working together to welcome visitors. It is precisely this intimate scale that makes it interesting for those seeking a less touristy, more authentic side of Irpinia.

Ospedaletto d'Alpinolo, the village at the foot of Montevergine

Ospedaletto d'Alpinolo stands at an altitude of about 725 meters on the Partenio massif, along the road that climbs toward the famous Sanctuary of Montevergine, one of the most frequented pilgrimage destinations in Southern Italy. The town has just under two thousand inhabitants and owes its name to the ancient hospital managed by monks, around which the settlement formed in medieval times.

Its gastronomic fame is linked above all to artisanal nougat, known in the local dialect as cupeto, and to the processing of Partenio chestnuts, celebrated in autumn with the Priest's Chestnut Festival. The Strawberry Festival, on the other hand, represents the early summer appointment, when the red fruit season is at its peak and the cool mountain climate makes it pleasant to spend the evening outdoors.

What to eat at the festival

The heart of the event is the food stalls dedicated to strawberries, accompanied by other local Irpinian specialties and local wine. The offering is typical of Campanian festivals: freshly served dishes, generous portions, and affordable prices, with the possibility of freely creating your own tasting route by moving from one stall to another.

• Strawberry-based desserts prepared by Pro Loco volunteers
• Local dishes and specialties of the Irpinian tradition
• Local wine, in a province that is a land of Fiano, Greco, and Taurasi
• Service in the square with outdoor tables

Music, singing, and dancing in the square

Alongside the gastronomic aspect, the festival offers live musical entertainment: singing, dancing, and bands that enliven the evening until late, following a formula that is repeated year after year. In the 2025 edition, for example, the Saturday evening was entrusted to the band Spaghetti Style. The music is designed for a diverse audience, with families, groups of friends, and residents dancing together in front of the stage set up in the square.

A community event with free admission

The Strawberry Festival is a free event: access to the festival area is open, and you only pay for what you consume at the stalls. This approach, combined with the evening schedule, makes it particularly suitable for those who want to combine an afternoon trip to the Sanctuary of Montevergine with an informal dinner in the valley, without planning anything in advance.

The event is also an opportunity for the town to showcase itself: the entire community is involved in the organization, from the kitchens to table service, in a spirit of volunteerism that is the hallmark of Italian Pro Loco associations. Those arriving from outside thus find a direct, informal, and very genuine welcome.

When it takes place

The event traditionally falls at the end of June, on the weekend that closes the month. The 2026 edition was held on Saturday, June 27, in Piazza Demanio, starting in the evening; in 2025, the festival was spread over two days, Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29. As this is an event organized by local volunteers, dates and times are communicated a few weeks in advance through the social channels of the Pro Loco and the Municipality of Ospedaletto d'Alpinolo: it is therefore advisable to verify them before setting off.