October in Italy is the most anticipated month for mushroom pickers, food enthusiasts, and nature lovers- the time when the entire peninsula comes alive with festivals, village fairs, and food events dedicated to mushrooms.
From the Dolomites to the Apennine hills, from the Umbrian woods to the Calabrian forests, each region proudly celebrates its own mushroom heritage through events that combine tradition, folklore, music, and, above all, excellent food.
Knowing the October mushroom festival calendar in advance allows you to plan a weekend dedicated to flavour, the autumn landscape, and Italian folk culture.
Northern Italy’s most famous mushroom festivals in October
Northern Italy offers some of the most historic and fascinating events related to the world of autumn mushrooms. The Dolomites and the Friulian Prealps, the Alpine valleys of Piedmont, and the forests of Lombardy are the scene of festivals that blend rural culture, food and wine, and traditional performances.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Ampezzo and the tradition of mountain mushrooms
The Carnic region of Friuli has been a hub for wild mushroom lovers for decades. In Ampezzo , in the province of Udine, the 2026 Transhumance Festival is held on September 26th and 27th and will also be dedicated to mushrooms.
The landscape, with its woods turning autumnal, makes the experience even more evocative.
Piedmont and Lombardy: Mushrooms and Valley Traditions
In the valleys of Piedmont and pre-Alpine Lombardy, October is the month of mushrooms par excellence. Several municipalities in the Alta Val Sesia, Val Camonica, and Valsassina organise mushroom festivals and markets where forest produce is paired with local wines, mountain cheeses, and artisanal cured meats.
In Rossana, a small village in the Cuneo province, one of the most anticipated autumn events in the Piedmont valleys will take place from October 2nd to 4th, 2026.
In Piazza Gazzelli, the scent of roasted chestnuts mingles with the aroma of fresh mushrooms, the star of the food tastings. The typical products fair rounds out the experience with a lively market where you can stock up on local delicacies to take home.
Mushroom Festivals in Central Italy: Umbria, Lazio, and Tuscany
Central Italy is the geographical region where mushroom festivals perhaps reach their peak popular expression. The oak, Turkey oak, and beech forests of Umbria, Lazio, and Tuscany produce mushrooms of extraordinary quality, and local communities celebrate them with events rooted in centuries-old traditions.
Umbria: Norcia, Scheggino, and the Porcini Mushroom Apennines
Norcia, the world capital of pork butchering and truffles, is also one of the most important places for the harvest and celebration of the Umbrian porcini mushroom.
The autumn festivals in the area surrounding the Sibillini Mountains are highly popular events, where porcini mushrooms are served raw in salads, sautéed with garlic and calamint, or as a condiment for handmade egg pappardelle.
In Valnerina, villages like Scheggino and Sant’Anatolia di Narco organise village festivals where mushrooms take centre stage alongside black truffles. The juxtaposition of these two products makes Umbrian autumn cuisine one of the most prized in Italy.
Tuscany: Mushroom Festivals between Casentino and Mugello
Tuscany offers a rich calendar of autumn food events. Casentino, in the province of Arezzo, and Mugello, in the heart of northern Tuscany, are major producers of porcini and porcini mushrooms. The Mushroom and Chestnut Festival in Vivo d’Orcia (SI) will open its doors on Sunday, October 11th and Sunday, October 18th, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
In Vivo d’Orcia, a village between the Val d’Orcia and Monte Amiata, the indoor restaurant serves lunch (12–3 PM) and dinner (7–9 pm) by reservation, featuring dishes such as mushroom soup, polenta, penne alla boscaiola, fried and roasted mushrooms, pork loin, and chestnut desserts. Self-service lunch is also available without reservation. The stands offer roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, and traditional products.
Lazio: The Bellegra Porcini Mushroom Thigh Festival
Among the mushroom festivals in Lazio, the Porcini Mushroom Tacchie Festival in Bellegra, a small medieval village in the Prenestini Mountains in the province of Rome, stands out.
The 2026 edition will take place from October 2nd to 4th and from October 9th to 11th, celebrating “tacchie,” a typical short pasta dish from Lazio, served with a rich sauce made with porcini mushrooms gathered in the local woods.
Bellegra is located at about 800 meters above sea level, in a wooded area that guarantees abundant mushroom pickings between September and October. In addition to tastings, the festival includes folk music, artisan markets, and guided tours of the medieval historic centre.
Mushroom festivals in Southern Italy and the islands
Southern Italy and its islands preserve lesser-known but no less fascinating mycological traditions. In Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, and Sicily, the mountain forests offer mushrooms of exceptional quality, often harvested and prepared according to ancient recipes.
Campania: Irpinia porcini mushrooms and the Laceno festival
The Irpinia porcini mushrooms, particularly tasty due to the microclimate and soil composition, are the protagonists of festivals held every October in neighbouring municipalities such as Bagnoli Irpino and Nusco.
Visitors can travel to Bagnoli Irpino for the 47th edition of the Black Truffle Market on two different weekends: October 23-25 and October 30-31. Autumnal Irpinia is also the land of Taurasi DOCG and Campania’s mountain wines, which pair beautifully with porcini mushrooms.
Calabria and Basilicata: beech mushrooms and cardoncelli
In the Calabrian Serre and Pollino National Park, the beech forests produce large porcini mushrooms with intense flavour. Several Calabrian municipalities organise autumn festivals where the mushroom is grilled, in soup, or as a condiment for homemade pasta.
In Basilicata, in Rivello, there is the Porcini Mushroom and Bean Festival on 11 and 12 October 2026. The areas of Vulture and the Pollino National Park in Lucania hosts similar events, with the king trumpet mushroom taking centre stage.
The king trumpet mushroom grows wild in uncultivated meadows and rocky outcrops and is one of the most versatile mushrooms in Southern Italian cuisine: excellent sautéed, stewed, grilled, or simply sautéed with local extra virgin olive oil.
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Source: https://www.idealista.it/