35th Mushroom Festival in Gambarie d'Aspromonte (Sagra dei Funghi)

Piazza Mangeruca · Santo Stefano in Aspromonte, Costa Viola, Calabria

25 October 2026

The 35th Mushroom Festival (Sagra dei Funghi) in Gambarie d'Aspromonte, originally scheduled for Sunday 11 October, has been postponed to Sunday 25 October 2026. The programme announced by the Comitato Gambarie Attiva, with the patronage of the municipality of Santo Stefano in Aspromonte, stays the same: exhibition stands open at 10am in Piazza Mangeruca, a mushroom exhibition runs from 10am to 6pm with mycologist Domenico “Mimmo” Porcino, tastings of mushroom dishes start at 12:30pm and, from 2:30pm, there is a concert by the Briganti Italiani and a DJ set by Enzo Romeo. Information: +39 333 2989261.

Postponed from 11 to 25 October: what changes

The 35th Sagra dei Funghi in Gambarie was originally scheduled for Sunday 11 October 2026. That date appeared in the municipality of Santo Stefano in Aspromonte's “Estate 2026” events programme, presented in July, and on the poster published on the municipality's website on 6 October. The organisers, the Comitato Gambarie Attiva, then circulated the same poster with the words “Event postponed to Sunday 25 October”, and the new date has been picked up by the province's event listings.

The sources do not give a reason for the postponement. The programme itself is unchanged: same times, same mushroom exhibition, same tastings and the same music. If you had planned a trip to Gambarie for 11 October, move it to Sunday 25 October.

Programme and times on Sunday 25 October

The day starts at 10am, when the exhibition stands open in Piazza Mangeruca in Gambarie. The mushroom exhibition also opens at 10am and stays open until 6pm. At 12:30pm the tastings of traditional mushroom dishes begin, described on the poster as cooked according to local tradition.

Alongside the food there are tastings of Cala craft beer, Librandi wines and Caffo liqueurs (amari, grappa and cocktails). The afternoon is given over to music: from 2:30pm the programme lists a concert by the band Briganti Italiani and a DJ set by Enzo Romeo (Rewind). The organisers also say that all the bars and restaurants in Gambarie will serve mushroom dishes for the occasion, so if you would rather have a sit-down lunch you are still part of the festival.

The mushroom exhibition with Domenico “Mimmo” Porcino

The mushroom exhibition is curated by the Comitato Gambarie Attiva, which organises the festival with the patronage of the municipality of Santo Stefano in Aspromonte, with the participation of mycologist Domenico “Mimmo” Porcino. It is open all day, from 10am to 6pm, so you can take your time and visit before or after lunch.

A mushroom exhibition is designed to help visitors learn to recognise different species, and it is a good chance to ask an expert questions, especially if you go foraging in autumn. One general rule always applies: mushrooms you pick yourself should be checked by a mycologist or by the local health authority's mushroom inspection service before you cook them.

Admission, tastings and information

The sources do not mention any entrance ticket: the festival takes place in a public square, open to everyone, and the mushroom exhibition is part of the day. Prices for the tastings have not been published, nor has the format (tokens, a set menu or individual dishes), so it is worth checking before you drive up, especially if you are coming as a group.

The information number on the poster is +39 333 2989261. Besides the Comitato Gambarie Attiva and the municipality of Santo Stefano in Aspromonte, the poster carries the logos of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, the Calabria Region, the Aspromonte National Park, Calabria Straordinaria and the Comprensorio di Gambarie. If the weather forecast for 25 October looks uncertain, call the information number before setting off.

How to get to Gambarie d'Aspromonte

Gambarie is a mountain village belonging to the municipality of Santo Stefano in Aspromonte, inside the Aspromonte National Park. From Reggio Calabria you drive up from Gallico on the SS184 state road, which links the coast with Gambarie; from the A2 motorway take the Gallico exit. The sources do not mention dedicated parking or shuttle buses for the festival.

In late October it is noticeably colder in the mountains than on the coast and the days are short: bring a warm jacket and comfortable shoes, and if you are driving back in the evening, allow for darkness on the mountain road. Check the weather and road conditions before you leave.

Things to do in and around Gambarie in late October

The municipality's “Estate 2026” programme also lists Il Parco delle Zucche di Aspropark (the Aspropark pumpkin park, now in its fifth year) for Sunday 25 October, at the Aspropark adventure park in the Forge area of Gambarie, with music and entertainment: an extra for families with children (check times and prices with the park). On Saturday 17 October the Ottobrata d'Aspromonte, an autumn food fair, takes place in Santo Stefano in Aspromonte, while “Saperi e Sapori d'Aspromonte” is scheduled in Mannoli on Sunday 1 November.

For other festivals and events in Calabria the same weekend, see the events calendar; if you want to stay a few days between the mountains and the Costa Viola, browse the holiday rentals listed on the site.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2026 Gambarie Mushroom Festival?

On Sunday 25 October 2026. It was originally set for Sunday 11 October, but the organisers postponed it and kept the same programme.

Did the festival take place on 11 October?

No. The updated official poster reads “Event postponed to Sunday 25 October”: the 35th edition will be held on that day.

Where does the festival take place?

In Piazza Mangeruca in Gambarie d'Aspromonte, a mountain village in the municipality of Santo Stefano in Aspromonte (province of Reggio Calabria).

Is admission free?

The sources do not mention any entrance ticket: the festival is held in a public square. Tasting prices have not been published; for information call +39 333 2989261.

What time do the tastings start?

At 12:30pm. The exhibition stands open at 10am and the mushroom exhibition is open from 10am to 6pm.

Is there live music?

Yes: from 2:30pm there is a concert by the Briganti Italiani and a DJ set by Enzo Romeo.

Who organises the Gambarie Mushroom Festival?

The Comitato Gambarie Attiva, with the patronage of the municipality of Santo Stefano in Aspromonte. Mycologist Domenico “Mimmo” Porcino takes part in the mushroom exhibition.

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