Wild Boar Pappardelle Festival

A young festival that has become a local staple

The Wild Boar Pappardelle Festival was established in 2023 in Villalba di Guidonia, a populous district of the Guidonia Montecelio municipality, located in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the heart of the Tiburtine Lazio region. In just a few editions, the event has secured a firm spot on the provincial spring calendar: by the second year, organizers recorded thousands of attendees over the weekend, with visitors arriving not only from the Guidonia area but also from Tivoli, the Aniene Valley, and the eastern outskirts of Rome.

The event is promoted by the Associazione RiCrea Insieme per il Territorio, a local volunteer organization, with the patronage of the Municipality of Guidonia Montecelio. The dual goal is to celebrate a traditional dish of the Lazio hinterland and to provide the residents of Villalba with a social gathering space in the new Via Trento square in front of the "Alberto Manzi" school, which has become the neighborhood's main hub thanks to the festival.

The signature dish: Wild Boar Pappardelle

Wild Boar Pappardelle is one of the most iconic dishes of Central Italian cuisine: wide, hand-rolled egg pasta served with a slow-cooked wild boar sauce infused with red wine, bay leaves, juniper berries, and aromatic herbs. It is a recipe rooted in rural and hunting traditions, connected to the forests of the Apennines and the Lucretili Mountains that frame the horizon northeast of Guidonia. At the festival, the pappardelle are prepared and served in abundance at various food stands, accompanied by other local specialties, a bar service, and family-friendly options.

Music, markets, and a funfair

The festival's appeal goes beyond the dining tables. Each day begins in the late afternoon with an aperitif and the opening of the artisan market, continuing with musical entertainment and culminating in evening stage performances: local marching bands, dance orchestras, school choirs, and music ranging from the 80s to the 2000s, with a popular dance floor. For children, there is a funfair and various entertainment activities, while the square also hosts community events such as first-aid demonstrations, sports tournaments, and the traditional raffle draw that closes the festival.

When it takes place

The first editions were held between late spring and early summer: in 2023 at the beginning of June, while in 2024 and 2025 the festival moved to the second weekend of May, spanning three days from Friday to Sunday. The dates for the new edition are typically announced a few weeks in advance on the Associazione RiCrea social media channels and covered by the local Tiburtine press.

What to see nearby

Visitors from out of town can combine the festival with a day trip in the area: Tivoli, just a few kilometers away, is home to two UNESCO sites, Villa d'Este and Hadrian's Villa; the historic village of Montecelio, with its fortress and panoramic views of the Roman countryside, can be reached in fifteen minutes by car; meanwhile, the famous Acque Albule thermal baths and the travertine quarries highlight the area's spa and industrial heritage.

• Where: Piazza di Via Trento, Villalba di Guidonia (Guidonia Montecelio, RM)
• When: Spring, usually in May, over three days
• Organizer: Associazione RiCrea Insieme per il Territorio, with municipal patronage
• Target audience: Families, traditional food lovers, local public