Threshing and Greasy Pole Festival

A festival dedicated to rural heritage

The Threshing and Greasy Pole Festival takes place every summer in Mottola, a village in the Murgia region of the Taranto province, at the charming Masseria Quisisana in Contrada Marinara. The event was born from a desire to preserve and pass on the customs of the Apulian countryside, back when village life followed the rhythm of the seasons and field work.

At the heart of the event is the historical re-enactment of threshing: locals and performers demonstrate how grain was separated from straw using traditional tools and techniques, offering a vivid account of life and work on local farms.

The greasy pole, a symbol of abundance

Alongside the threshing, the festival features the re-enactment of the greasy pole, an ancient popular game where participants climb a greased pole to reach prizes at the top. According to the organizers, the greasy pole symbolizes the arrival of the warm season and its promise of abundance—a collective ritual that brings together young and old to close the evenings in high spirits.

Flavors and folk music

Over the two evenings, there is no shortage of food and wine stalls offering tastings of typical products, wines, and traditional dishes from the Murgia area of Taranto. The festival is accompanied by Apulian folk music: past editions have featured groups such as Folkasud, Taranto Fil Morena, and various pizzica and traditional music ensembles, keeping the audience dancing until late at night.

A local event

The event is organized by the Associazione Agricoltura e Storia in Masseria, with the support of the Municipality of Mottola (Department of Culture and Tourism) and the collaboration of the Ortolani family, the Terre Nostre cultural association, and local agricultural entities. The goal is to attract visitors from across Puglia and nearby Basilicata, celebrating the rural identity of the territory and its gastronomic traditions.

Evenings typically begin around 7:30 PM, when the heat of the day gives way to the cool evening air on the farm. Admission is symbolic, and the festival is designed as a community gathering open to families.