As the year draws to a close, italy is embracing the festive season with a diverse array of culinary events and celebrations happening nationwide. From November 28th through December 1st, a series of food festivals, markets, and tasting events will spotlight regional specialties – and especially artisanal products – across the country. The coming days offer a unique possibility for both residents and tourists to experience Italy’s rich gastronomic heritage and holiday spirit.
Italy is gearing up for a festive end to November, with a vibrant mix of food festivals, Christmas markets, and dazzling holiday light displays popping up across the country. From bustling cities to charming small towns, there’s a growing excitement to get out and enjoy the seasonal offerings.
We’ve rounded up ten can’t-miss events happening throughout Italy – including the islands – from celebrations of traditional panettone to local food festivals, and events for serious gourmands. There’s something to satisfy every palate.
Re Panettone a Novegro (MI)
Table of Contents
- Re Panettone a Novegro (MI)
- Festa della Cicerchia a Serra de’ Conti (AN)
- Mostra Mercato Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco a San Miniato (PI)
- Panettone d’Artista a Salerno
- Mangia e Cambia 2025 a Messina
- Salone Nazionale del Panettone a Torino
- MareDiVino e DiGusto a Livorno
- Sagra del Fagiolo Bianco a Controne (SA)
- Uva fiera 2025 a Roma
- Sardinia Cocktail Festival a Cagliari
The 18th edition of Re Panettone, a festival dedicated to artisanal panettone, returns to the outskirts of Milan from November 28th to 30th. The event, hosted at the Parco Esposizioni Novegro in Segrate, features a market showcasing panettone made exclusively with sourdough starter and natural ingredients, without the use of preservatives or artificial additives. This year’s edition introduces a new category, “Panettone Partenope,” inspired by Neapolitan mythology, alongside the traditional competitions for classic panettone, 5kg panettone, and savory panettone. Attendees can participate by voting for their favorites, while a technical jury will evaluate the creations of the artisans.
Festa della Cicerchia a Serra de’ Conti (AN)
The Festa della Cicerchia returns for its 30th edition, offering four days of festivities, three days of traditional food stalls, and roaming performances, along with new wine cellars and locations – including a first-time appearance at the Monastero di Santa Maria Maddalena. The star of the show is the cicerchia, an ancient, beige, slightly flattened legume with a bold flavor. The Marche town transforms into a culinary journey, with each alleyway offering a taste of local flavors. The festival takes place in the historic center of Serra de’ Conti, enclosed within medieval walls – a setting so picturesque it’s often called a “pearl of the Marche.” The event promises tradition, authentic cuisine, and entertainment with street artists, folk groups, and lively songs throughout the town.
Mostra Mercato Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco a San Miniato (PI)
The 54th edition of the National White Truffle Market Exhibition concludes its run on November 29th and 30th. The town of San Miniato is hosting the event, which celebrates one of Tuscany’s most prized products, the Tuber magnatum pico, grown and harvested in the hills surrounding the town. The heart of the event, which animates the historic center with stalls of local producers, wines, and oils, is, of course, the white truffle, alongside other regional delicacies like cured meats, cheeses, and desserts. Alongside the market, the event features gourmet shows with Michelin-starred chefs at the Officina del Tartufo, offering a rich calendar dedicated to food and wine culture.
Panettone d’Artista a Salerno
Salerno is preparing for the third edition of “Panettone d’Artista,” taking place November 29th and 30th at the Stazione Marittima. The festival celebrates artisanal panettone and the excellence of Southern Italy’s pastry chefs. This year’s event will welcome master pastry chefs from throughout Campania and the South. From classic versions to innovative creations, visitors can discover a universe of flavors, selected ingredients, and artisanal techniques. The festival will also host the “Maestri Pasticceri” awards ceremony, recognizing excellence in the pastry world for quality, research, and innovation.
Mangia e Cambia 2025 a Messina
From November 28th to 30th, the event conceived by Slow Food returns. This year’s theme: “Food pe(R)Esistere” (“Food to (Re)Exist”). The “Mangia e Cambia 2025” event transforms Messina’s most symbolic locations – from the University to the Crypt of the Cathedral, from the Town Hall to the Church of San Tommaso il Vecchio – into a laboratory of contemporary gastronomic thought. The event culminates in a dinner at the Chamber of Commerce, featuring 17 resident communities from Albania to Ethiopia, Palestine to the Philippines, Ukraine and Bangladesh. The festival highlights the growing importance of food as a catalyst for social change.
Salone Nazionale del Panettone a Torino
From November 28th to 30th, Turin hosts the 14th edition of the National Panettone Fair, an event dedicated to the excellence of Italian artisanal leavened cakes. At the Hotel Principi di Piemonte, the best pastry chefs from across Italy will compete. A new category, “Best Chocolate Panettone,” has been introduced this year. With blind tastings judged by a panel of experts, meetings, and events, the fair solidifies its position as a key event for panettone lovers and producers alike.
MareDiVino e DiGusto a Livorno
From Saturday, November 29th to Monday, December 1st, MareDiVino e DiGusto, the most anticipated food and wine exhibition on the Tuscan coast, will arrive at the Modigliani Forum in Livorno. The event aims to promote the wine heritage of the coast and the region, combined with the excellence of local gastronomy. The venue will feature a main stage for major events, while side rooms will host masterclasses, conferences, cooking shows, and activities for children.
Sagra del Fagiolo Bianco a Controne (SA)
The 41st edition of the White Bean Festival in Controne returns on Saturday, November 29th and Sunday, November 30th, and the weekend of December 27th and 28th. Four days of festivities celebrate the local white bean, prepared in traditional dishes and seasoned with extra virgin olive oil from local cultivars like Rotondella and Carpellese. This traditional cultivation, passed down for centuries, has resulted in diverse varieties and the extraordinary white bean that will be the star of the weekend’s festival.
Uva fiera 2025 a Roma
From Sunday, November 30th to Monday, December 1st, the new edition of the small Italian quality wine exhibition will launch for the first time in the spaces of Monk in Rome. Sunday will be a day of celebration for the public, with tastings, a food area with three stations, specialty coffee, music, book presentations, and convivial moments. Monday will be dedicated to in-depth analysis for operators. Approximately 40 exhibitors with 250 wines for tasting will be present across 300 square meters of exhibition space.
Sardinia Cocktail Festival a Cagliari
From November 29th to December 1st, Cagliari will host the first edition of the Sardinia Cocktail Festival, an event that shines a spotlight on contemporary mixology and the island’s agricultural excellence. For three days, the city will become the heart of conscious drinking culture, hosting masterclasses, meetings, tastings, and educational moments at Sa Manifattura, focusing on the quality and identity of Sardinian ingredients through the innovative language of cocktails. Simultaneously, the city’s bars will participate in Spiriti Autentici, with signature drinks, special guest shifts, and unique collaborations.
