Threshing Festival

The Threshing Festival in Acquapendente

In the summer of 2026, the first edition of the Threshing Festival debuts in Acquapendente, in the Province of Viterbo. This event is designed to celebrate rural culture and revive the gestures, flavors, and atmosphere that have defined life in the fields of Alta Tuscia for generations. Part of the R-Estate ad Acquapendente summer program, the event takes place at the Orto dei Frati, a green space in the heart of the village, and continues with a lunch at the charming Chiostro di San Francesco.

A re-enactment of farming traditions

The event retraces the full workday of farmers from the past. It begins with "La mietitura de 'na volta" (Harvesting of the old days), a re-enactment of traditional techniques used before the arrival of modern agricultural machinery, accompanied by stories and testimonies of peasant culture. In the afternoon, the grain threshing takes center stage—one of the most iconic agricultural tasks—followed by the traditional merenna (afternoon snack), a symbol of the conviviality that once marked the end of a day in the fields.

The taste of country cuisine

The highlight of the festival is the Threshing Lunch at the Chiostro di San Francesco, where the Farmer's Menu is served: a journey through genuine flavors that celebrates local cuisine and the typical products of the Viterbo territory. It is a unique opportunity to rediscover the simple, authentic table of the Alta Tuscia countryside.

Music and old-world atmosphere

The entire day is accompanied by accordion music and performances by the Moto Folk, recreating the joy of village festivals of yesteryear. The result is an authentic folk festival, perfect for families and anyone wishing to rediscover the agricultural roots of this corner of the Lazio region, on the border between Lazio, Tuscany, and Umbria.

Acquapendente and Alta Tuscia

Located along the ancient Via Francigena, Acquapendente is one of the most characteristic villages of the Lazio Alta Tuscia, also famous for the Festa dei Pugnaloni. The new Threshing Festival enriches the summer calendar of the Municipality of Acquapendente, combining rural memory, gastronomy, and live entertainment in a day with a strong sense of identity.