Strawberry Festival
Three days of stalls, markets, and entertainment in the City of Strawberries
About Strawberry Festival
The festival of Parete's iconic fruit
Every year in mid-May, the municipality of Parete, in the Province of Caserta, celebrates the product that has driven its agricultural success: the strawberry. This town in the Aversa area is known throughout Campania as the City of Strawberries, and the Strawberry Festival is the event that tells its story, showcasing the hard work in the fields and the local culinary traditions. For three days, the Villa Comunale in Piazza Caduti sul Lavoro fills with stalls, direct-sale stands, the scent of freshly baked pastries, and stages set up for the evening entertainment.
From Fragoladay to a regional landmark
The event began as Fragoladay and has grown over the years into a significant regional festival, attracting visitors, agricultural professionals, and curious onlookers alike. It is promoted by the Associazione La Tenda, a social promotion organization active in Parete since 2009 and the manager of the PAM – Parete Art Museum and the Strawberry Museum, with the patronage of the municipality. More than just a traditional food festival, it is a territorial marketing project designed to enhance the town's agricultural and cultural identity: it is no coincidence that the ribbon-cutting ceremony is accompanied by a conference dedicated to agriculture, the territory, and innovation.
What to taste
The Parete strawberry is the absolute star of every stall, interpreted in both sweet and savory versions by local pastry shops, ice cream parlors, and restaurants. The gastronomic journey alternates between traditional recipes and more creative reinterpretations:
- Artisanal desserts, tarts, babà, and strawberry cakes;
- Ice creams, sorbets, and granitas made with fresh fruit;
- Jams, syrups, and liqueurs from local producers;
- Savory and gourmet options, from strawberry risotto to stuffed sandwiches;
- Campanian specialties from food and wine stalls and show cooking stations.
The market and local farms
Alongside the food stalls, the strawberry market offers direct sales from local farms: crates of freshly picked fruit, as well as plants to grow at home. It is the perfect opportunity to talk to producers, learn about the varieties grown in the area, and understand the seasonality of a harvest that reaches its peak in May. Guided tours of the Strawberry Museum complete the experience, recounting the history and cultivation techniques.
Shows, music, and comedy
Every evening, the Villa Comunale hosts a stage with concerts, DJ sets, and comedy shows, all with free admission. Over the years, the event has featured well-known names from the Neapolitan and national scene, ranging from cabaret and live music to dance nights, with the Sunday finale usually entrusted to a major guest. The free-entry policy is a deliberate choice by the organizers and contributes to the high turnout over the three days.
An event designed for families too
The Strawberry Festival is suitable for all ages: entertainment, soap bubbles, educational and creative workshops, afternoon shows for children, and engaging activities for schools and the local nursery. On the weekend, the stalls open in the late morning, making it easy to plan a visit that combines lunch, a walk in the center, and an evening show.
How to make the most of the festival
We recommend arriving in the afternoon, when the Villa Comunale is already lively but not yet crowded, to spend some time at the producers' market and stay for the evening music. Parete is located a short distance from Aversa, Giugliano in Campania, and Naples, and is easily accessible by car: during the festival, the center is very busy, so it is advisable to park on the outskirts and continue on foot.
Strawberry Festival — edition 2026
The tenth edition
From May 15 to 17, 2026, the Villa Comunale of Parete, in the Province of Caserta, hosted the tenth edition of the Strawberry Festival, organized by the Associazione La Tenda with the patronage of the municipality. The opening on Friday was entrusted to a conference on agriculture, territory, and innovation, followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony with the regional councilor for agriculture, Maria Carmela Serluca, and an inaugural toast before the opening of the stalls.
Flavors and market
For three days, the stands offered artisanal desserts from local pastry shops, ice creams, jams, and savory preparations such as strawberry risotto and stuffed sandwiches, alongside the market with direct sales of fresh fruit and plants by local farms. On Sunday, a lunch service was also set up in collaboration with local businesses.
The evenings
The evening program, always free, alternated music, dance, and comedy, with the grand finale on Sunday, May 17, entrusted to Lil Jolie and Cristina D'Avena, for a very well-attended evening in the Villa Comunale.
Programme Strawberry Festival 2026
Friday, May 15, 2026
- 5:00 PM – Conference on agriculture, territory, and innovation and ribbon-cutting ceremony with regional councilor for agriculture Maria Carmela Serluca
- 6:30 PM – Inaugural toast with institutions, sponsors, and press; official opening of the stalls, the strawberry market, and pastry stations
- 9:00 PM – La Murga Los Espositos, percussion and dance performance
- Following – DJ set by Carlo Carità of the Angels of Love collective
Saturday, May 16, 2026
- From 11:30 AM – Opening of food and wine stalls and the producers' market
- 6:30 PM – Children's show with the Angy's Bubbles collective
- 9:00 PM – Risatissima Show with Mariano Bruno, Francesco Albanese, and Radio Rocket, followed by Villa Per Bene
Sunday, May 17, 2026
- From 11:00 AM – Opening of stalls with entertainment for children and Huntrix performance
- From 1:00 PM – Lunch service in collaboration with Salumeria del Seggio and Lelena Burger
- 7:00 PM – Children's show
- 9:00 PM – Performance by students of the Arte in Musica School
- Following – Lil Jolie opens the closing evening, grand finale with the concert by Cristina D'Avena
Throughout the three days: show cooking, creative and educational workshops, guided tastings, visits to the Strawberry Museum, and direct sales of strawberries and plants by Parete farms.
Highlights Strawberry Festival 2026
- Tenth edition of the event, originally launched as Fragoladay
- Concert by Cristina D'Avena for the closing, Sunday, May 17
- Lil Jolie opening the final evening
- Strawberry market with direct sales from Parete farms
- Gastronomic journey dedicated to strawberries, from sweet to savory
- Inaugural conference on agriculture, territory, and innovation
- Creative workshops and children's shows
- Completely free admission and shows
Prices Strawberry Festival 2026
Practical information — Strawberry Festival
Location
Villa Comunale di Parete, Piazza Caduti sul Lavoro, 81030 Parete (CE), Campania. Stalls also extend into the adjacent streets.
How to get there
By car: take the Parete/Trentola Ducenta exit from the Asse Mediano, or from the SS7 bis Variante; Parete is about 6 km from Aversa and 30 km from Naples. By train: Aversa station on the Rome-Naples line and the regional network, then bus or taxi to Parete. By plane: Naples-Capodichino airport, about 30 km away.
Admission and prices
Admission to the festival area and all shows is free. You only pay for what you consume at the food stalls and what you purchase at the producers' market.
Tips
Outdoor evenings: in May, it can get chilly after sunset, so it is best to bring a light jacket. For Sunday lunch, booking at the participating stalls is recommended. For updated hours and the final program, it is best to check the official website and the social media channels of the Associazione La Tenda.
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Where does it take place — Strawberry Festival
Villa Comunale di Parete
Piazza Caduti sul Lavoro, 81030 Parete