Strawberry Grape Festival

A festival born to save a grape

The Strawberry Grape Festival in Roccagorga is one of the most deeply rooted popular events in the Monti Lepini, in the heart of the province of Latina, in the Lazio region. Established in the mid-eighties by the Pro Loco and the municipal administration, the festival was designed from the start as a way to promote a unique and fragile agricultural product: the strawberry grape, a variety with an unmistakable scent that, due to regulatory and commercial reasons, is now almost impossible to find in fruit shops. In Roccagorga, however, it continues to grow on the domestic pergolas that shade courtyards and gardens, and once a year it becomes the absolute star of village life.

Where and when

The heart of the festival is Piazza VI Gennaio, the scenic Baroque square of the Municipality of Roccagorga, which for the occasion transforms into a large, convivial open-air space. From there, the event spreads into the alleys of the historic center, where stalls, exhibitions, and tasting points are set up. The event traditionally takes place on a Sunday, between the last days of September and the first of October, when the strawberry grape harvest has just finished and the clusters are at their sweetest.

What to eat

The festival's culinary offerings feature the robust and honest cuisine of the Lepini mountains, served by Pro Loco volunteers at stalls open for both lunch and dinner. Dishes that return year after year include:

• Polenta with sausage sauce, the signature dish of the town's autumn days
• Trippetta (tripe) prepared according to the traditional recipe
• Bread soup, a classic of the humble cuisine of the Monti Lepini
• Sandwiches, fried foods, and street food specialties
• Tastings of local wines and liqueurs
• And, of course, clusters of strawberry grapes, offered and sold by local producers

Markets, music, and tradition

From the morning, the village streets host antique and craft markets along with exhibition stands from artisans and agricultural businesses of the Pontine territory. Throughout the day, there are live music performances, entertainment, and folkloric events: in historical editions, the day opened with a marching band parade and continued with a parade of vintage tractors, cheese-making demonstrations, and popular games, while more recent years have seen gatherings of vintage cars and motorcycles, sports exhibitions, and guided walks to discover the town.

The village to visit

The festival is also the best opportunity to discover Roccagorga, a village perched at over 280 meters above sea level with a view that spans the Pontine plain all the way to the sea. During the day, the Baronial Palace, the churches of the historic center, and the town's museum spaces are generally accessible, including the ethno-museum dedicated to the Lepini peasant civilization. It is a short but dense route that helps one understand why, in these towns, the domestic vine and the pergola are not just agriculture, but family memory.

For families

The event is also designed for children: the kids' area with inflatables, candy and cotton candy stalls, and animation workshops make the festival a trip suitable for the whole family. Admission to the festival area is free; you only pay for what you consume at the stalls.

A staple of the Lepini calendar

With over forty years of history behind it, the Strawberry Grape Festival is now a fixed stop on the autumn calendar of the Monti Lepini, alongside the other festivals of the Compagnia dei Lepini towns. Every year, it attracts thousands of visitors from Latina, neighboring towns, and the Rome area, who travel up to Roccagorga for a day of good food, hill air, and authentic tradition.