When the calendar turns to late September, Italy transforms into one of the most enchanting destinations in Europe. Autumn is not only about fiery vineyards and cooler evenings—it is also the peak of the country’s food festival season. Known as sagre, these festivals are deeply rooted in local traditions, celebrating the harvest and the products that define Italian regional cuisines.

🌰 Autumn Ingredients That Inspire Festivals

Autumn in Italy is the season of abundance. Key ingredients inspire entire festivals:

Chestnuts: roasted on open fires, turned into cakes like castagnaccio, or ground into flour for rustic pastas.
Mushrooms: especially the prized porcini, used in risottos, soups, and grilled with olive oil.
Truffles: both white and black truffles are celebrated, with fairs dedicated to their aroma and rarity.
Wine: grape harvest (vendemmia) season means tastings, parades, and celebrations in vineyard towns.
Olive Oil: freshly pressed olio nuovo is released in late autumn, often with tastings and local bread.
Pumpkin & Squash: popular in northern Italy, used in ravioli fillings, soups, and gnocchi.

Food Festivals Calendar

🍇 Gusto Festival (Moncalieri, Piedmont)

Dates: Every weekend in October 2025
Where: Moncalieri, near Turin
Highlights: A vibrant autumn festival showcasing regional specialties, wines, and artisanal foods. Each weekend features tastings, cultural events, and live music.
Tickets: General access is free; some tastings may require a reservation locally.

🍷 Merano WineFestival (South Tyrol)

Dates: 7–11 November 2025
Where: Merano, Alto Adige
Highlights: One of Europe’s top wine events, featuring hundreds of Italian and international labels, high-end tastings, cooking shows, and food-wine pairings.
Tickets: Available online through Vivaticket.

🍄 Alba White Truffle Festival (Piedmont)

Dates: 11 October – 8 December 2025
Where: Alba, Langhe region
Highlights: Italy’s most prestigious truffle event, dedicated to the prized white truffle. Expect a large truffle market, cooking demos, tastings, and pairings with Barolo and Barbaresco wines.

🌰 Marradi Chestnut Festival (Tuscany)

Dates: Every Sunday in October 2025
Where: Marradi, in the Apennine mountains
Highlights: The famous “Marron Buono” chestnut is celebrated here with roasted chestnuts, cakes, jams, liqueurs, and music in the medieval village.
Tickets: Usually free entry; food is purchased on site.

🍄 National Porcini Mushroom Fair (Emilia-Romagna)

Dates: 3–5 October 2025
Where: Albareto, Parma province
Highlights: Celebrates porcini mushrooms with fresh products, food stalls, cooking contests, and mushroom-based dishes prepared by local chefs.
Tickets: Entry is typically free; pay as you go for food.

🏰 Autunno Ducale (Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna)

Dates: 25–26 October 2025
Where: Historic center of Ferrara
Highlights: Traditional dishes like pumpkin cappellacci, salama da sugo, and local truffle specialties. The city fills with markets and medieval-themed celebrations.
Tickets: Open access; food purchased directly from vendors.

🍏 Apple and Grape Festival (Valtellina, Lombardy)

Dates: 10–12 October 2025
Where: Villa di Tirano, Valtellina
Highlights: Celebrates the valley’s apple orchards and vineyards with tastings, parades, and stands full of fruit, cider, and wine.
Tickets: Free entry; tastings paid on site.

🌋 Ottobrata Zafferanese (Sicily)

Dates: Every Sunday in October 2025
Where: Zafferana Etnea, on the slopes of Mount Etna
Highlights: Each Sunday focuses on different seasonal foods—grapes, mushrooms, honey, chestnuts—along with Sicilian sweets, music, and cultural events.
Tickets: Entry is free; food available at local stands.

🍇 Why Autumn Festivals Are Special?

Autumn festivals in Italy carry a charm that no other season can match. As the summer crowds fade, villages and towns come alive with traditions that have been passed down for centuries. The cooler weather and golden landscapes create the perfect backdrop for gatherings that celebrate the land’s bounty, from truffles unearthed in misty forests to grapes transformed into new wine. Unlike summer events that often cater to tourists, autumn festivals are rooted in community life, designed primarily for locals, which makes them feel authentic and intimate.

What makes these celebrations even more unique is the diversity you find across the country. Each region highlights its own seasonal treasures…Tuscany with chestnuts and mushrooms, Piedmont with its prized white truffles, Umbria with chocolate, and Sicily with volcanic produce like honey and pistachios. Beyond the food itself, there is a sense of cultural continuity: medieval parades, folk music, artisan markets, and family traditions blend seamlessly with the flavors of the season. Together, these elements make Italy’s autumn festivals not just about eating, but about connecting with history, place, and people.

🧭 Practical Tips for Travelers

Plan weekends: Most sagre happen Friday–Sunday; weekdays are quieter.
Small towns, big crowds: Popular festivals can attract thousands—arrive early to avoid parking and food line stress.
Cash is king: While larger events may accept cards, most food stands still operate on cash.
Taste like a local: Don’t just try the headline ingredient—explore side dishes, local wines, and sweets made for the occasion.
Bring reusable cutlery or cups: Some sagre encourage sustainability, and it’s handy for multiple tastings.

🍂 The Tradition of the Sagra

The word sagra in Italy refers to a community festival, often centered on a single ingredient or seasonal product. These events usually take place in small towns and villages, filling piazzas with food stalls, music, and entertainment. What makes them unique is their authenticity: families come together, volunteers prepare traditional dishes, and recipes are passed down through generations.

Visiting a sagra is not just about eating, it is about experiencing Italian culture at its most genuine. You’ll often find nonnas serving local specialties, winemakers pouring from their own vineyards, and children performing in folk dances or parades.