Fusillo Festival at Ferretto 2026: Dates and Program

From 12 to 15 August 2026, Castelpoto, a small village in the province of Benevento, hosts the 38th Fusillo Festival at Ferretto, the most anticipated summer event in the country. Four evenings dedicated to traditional handmade pasta, Red Sausage from Castelpoto and the wines of Sannio, with food stands open every evening and an entertainment program that combines live music, group dancing, and karaoke. A festival that has celebrated the gastronomic identity of a region for nearly four decades and which, this year too, promises to become a must-see for lovers of Campanian festivals.

The signature dish: handmade fusilli al ferretto

The absolute protagonist of the event is the fusilli with ferretto, an artisanal pasta that takes its name from the tool used to make it: a thin iron rod, about thirty centimeters long, around which the dough is wrapped and shaped until it achieves its characteristic elongated, twisted shape. The preparation still follows the ancient technique passed down by the village's housewives, who in their homemade pasta workshops teach the younger generations the skills of a process that has remained untouched by time. The dough, stretched by hand and rolled on the rod, is then left to dry before cooking, giving the dish the porous texture that holds the sauce perfectly. The decision to keep this process alive is not just a matter of taste, but represents a true safeguard of rural culture, an intangible heritage that the festival helps protect and enhance. Alongside fusilli, the menu for the four evenings features other local specialties, starting with Red Sausage from Castelpoto, a cured meat that has obtained recognition as a traditional agri-food product and is also a Slow Food presidium, a gastronomic symbol of the Samnite village.

Red Sausage and Sannio Wines: The Festive Menu

La Red Sausage from Castelpoto This product deserves a separate mention because it showcases an entirely local supply chain: the pigs are raised locally, the meat is processed by hand without preservatives, and the product is dried solely over the heat of a fireplace, following a recipe handed down from generation to generation. The characteristic red color, which gives the cured meat its name, comes from the generous use of ground sweet pepper, which flavors and colors the meat. Along with these delicacies, August evenings offer other traditional local dishes, accompanied by local wines: Falanghina, fresh and fragrant white wine that enhances the flavours of the pasta, and theAglianicoA structured and intense red, perfect paired with cured meats and main courses. Food stands welcome visitors starting in the evening, while the entertainment program enlivens the square every night with shows, group dances, karaoke, and live music concerts, transforming the tasting into a convivial experience that engages residents and visitors. For those wishing to anticipate their trip, the complete calendar of events is available here. festivals in Campania 2026 It collects all the events of the season.

Castelpoto and the continuing tradition

Castelpoto is a small agricultural town in the province of Benevento, nestled in the hills of Sannio and surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, a setting that perfectly illustrates the quality of the products served at the festival. The event represents the highlight of the year for the local community, which has worked for decades to keep alive a heritage of recipes, gestures, and flavors. The decision to combine the tasting with a packed program of performances has made the festival an event that attracts audiences from neighboring towns and provinces, transforming the mid-August evenings into a collective celebration that unites young and old. Those who have attended past editions will find the same atmosphere described in our coverage of the 2023 festival, while for fans of the salami that is the symbol of the village, there is also an in-depth study on the Red Sausage FestivalFor those planning a visit, we recommend arriving in Castelpoto in the late afternoon, so you can explore the village at your leisure before the stands open and enjoy the evening until late at night among the authentic flavors of Sannio.