Wild Strawberry (and Mountain) Festival

The Capistrello Wild Strawberry Festival

The Wild Strawberry (and Mountain) Festival is one of the most deeply rooted popular events in the municipality of Capistrello, in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of the Abruzzo Marsica. Reaching its 60th edition in 2025, the festival takes place on the Renga Plateau (the so-called Piani della Renga), a vast high-altitude plain overlooking the town and the Valle Roveto.

The wild strawberry, the star of the show

The heart of the festival is the wild strawberry, which grows spontaneously among the meadows and woods of the plateau. The event takes its name and identity from this small, fragrant fruit: for one day, the plateau transforms into a large open-air space where families and visitors gather to enjoy strawberries and seasonal fruit, accompanied by roaming brass bands. Beyond the culinary aspect, the event focuses on the protection and promotion of the mountains, highlighting their cultural, folkloric, and gastronomic uniqueness, hence the subtitle "and Mountain".

A day of celebration at altitude

The day typically begins in the morning with an open-air Holy Mass, celebrated around 11:00 AM, a moment that unites the community in tradition. In the afternoon, starting at 4:00 PM, the entertainment program kicks off: traditional games, fun competitions (from "soapy soccer" to bubble-blowing contests), bouncy castles for children, live music, and numerous food stalls. The atmosphere is that of a genuine mountain village fair, characterized by a strong sense of community and intergenerational spirit.

Organization and tradition

The event is organized by the Pro Loco of Capistrello, which handles the setup, logistics, and programming every year. In some editions, the festival has been enriched with historical re-enactments and insights into the past of the Marsica region and ancient Marsian religious traditions, testifying to the deep bond between this territory, its history, and the mountain landscape.

A Marsica event in Abruzzo

Located at the entrance to the Valle Roveto, the town of Capistrello preserves this identity-defining event, which attracts visitors from all over the Marsica region and the entire Abruzzo region. The setting of the Renga Plateau, with its fresh air and panoramic views, makes the Wild Strawberry Festival one of the most beloved summer outings in the area.