All throughout Italy, October marks the start of dozens of festivals celebrating a popular food: chestnuts. Italy is the fourth largest chestnut producer in the world, and the largest in Europe, producing over 50,000 metric tons of the nut in 2018 alone. Italian chestnuts are known for their sweet flavor, with notes of vanilla and hazelnut, and they peel easier than many other varieties.

Italy produces the most chestnuts of any country in Europe!

Chestnut festivals across the country usually begin in early October, and can often run until the end of November. The festival in Soriano, north of Rome, is one of the earliest festivals, beginning on Saturday, September 25, and running until October 17, 2021. These festivals often involve weekend markets selling chestnuts in bulk, as well as a wide variety of dishes made with the nut. Some even include cooking contests and parades! Each festival is unique and celebrates the local history of each town or region. While Americans may think of “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” at Christmas time, to Italians, Fall is chestnut season!