Watermelon Fair

The Watermelon Fair, a Sienese Chianti tradition

In the medieval village of Castellina in Chianti, in the province of Siena, the end of summer has had a fixed date for generations: the Watermelon Fair. The event originated in the post-war period as a peasant tradition, when local families would travel to town to sell seasonal fruit and vegetables—with the watermelon, the iconic fruit of the hot Tuscan August, becoming its symbol. After a period of suspension, the festival was revived in the 1980s and is now a staple of the Castellina summer calendar.

A local farmers' market in the heart of the village

The core of the Fair is the farmers' market that takes over Piazza del Comune and the historic center's streets: local producers and artisans offer the fruits of the Chianti land, traditional products, handmade crafts, and gastronomic specialties. It is an opportunity to showcase the region's excellence and rediscover the ancient bond between Castellina and its countryside, made of vineyards, olive groves, and farmsteads.

Performances, communal dinners, and music

Alongside the market, the Fair is enriched by a multi-day program of events. The village streets and the main square host roving performances, traditional Tuscan folk songs, and entertainment for families and children, while the Parco delle Casce becomes the hub of conviviality with food stalls and evening dinners organized by local associations. The night concludes with live music in Piazza del Comune, ranging from folk repertoires to bands reinterpreting great classics.

Why it's worth attending

The Watermelon Fair is not a manufactured tourist attraction, but a genuine village festival that reflects the identity of the Castellina in Chianti community. For those visiting the Sienese Chianti in late August, it is the ideal opportunity to experience the village from the inside, amidst the scent of local produce, music in the square, and the authentic hospitality of rural Tuscany.

• Where: Piazza del Comune, town center streets, and Parco delle Casce, Castellina in Chianti (SI)
• When: Late August
• Admission: Free (dinners by reservation)
• Type: Farmers' market, food festival, and community celebration