Sapori d'Autunno 2026 in Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte: autumn food festival

Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte · Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte, Costa Viola, Calabria

7 November 2026 – 8 November 2026

On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026 Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte, a small village in the hills behind Reggio Calabria, hosts the 18th edition of Sapori d'Autunno (Autumn Flavours), promoted by the municipality under its Feel Aspromonte brand. Saturday opens at 5pm: street food stands and craft stalls start at 6pm, and at 9.30pm there is the free concert “Voglio tornare negli anni '90” (I want to go back to the 90s). On Sunday, from 11am until late, there is a DJ set, a vintage car parade, the Palio delle botti, a folk group, street performers and children's entertainment; a funfair is open every evening. The poster mentions no entrance ticket for the festival and announces a special ATAM bus from Piazza Garibaldi in Reggio Calabria.

Saturday 7 November programme

The 18th edition of Sapori d'Autunno (Autumn Flavours) takes place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026 in Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte. The times below come from the official poster released by the municipality.

On Saturday the festival starts at 5pm and runs until late. At 6pm the street food stands and craft stalls open, together with an information point for the SAI projects, Italy's reception and integration scheme for refugees. A DJ set called “Waiting for the big concert” warms up the crowd until 9.30pm, when the show “Voglio tornare negli anni '90” takes the stage. A funfair is also open in the village on both evenings.

Sunday 8 November: vintage cars, barrels and folk music

Sunday is the longer day, starting at 11am when the street food stands, craft stalls and information point reopen. At 11.30am there is a DJ set by the local Vespa Club, at midday a parade of vintage cars, and at 4pm the Palio delle botti, a contest built around wooden barrels. Late in the afternoon it is the turn of traditional music, with a folk group parading at 5pm, followed by street performers at 5.40pm.

Children's entertainment runs from 11.30am until late. The poster gives no closing time and does not name the folk group or the street artists: for details, call the municipality's switchboard on +39 0965 741029.

The free concert “Voglio tornare negli anni '90”

Saturday's headline event is the live show “Voglio tornare negli anni '90” (I want to go back to the 90s), at 9.30pm in Via Roma; the poster lists it as free. It is a touring format that plays town squares across Italy with the decade's dance, pop and hip hop hits, backed by stage effects such as smoke geysers, giant bubbles, confetti, streamers and out-of-season artificial snow, plus entertainers and mascots.

Sant'Alessio gets the winter version of the show, “Luna Park – The Winter Show”. Running time, tour background and answers to common questions are on the dedicated page: Voglio tornare negli anni '90 in Sant'Alessio.

Who runs it and how past editions went

The 2026 poster is headed by the coat of arms of the municipality of Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte and the Feel Aspromonte brand, with the slogan “the village that tells the story of Aspromonte”. Other logos include the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, the Calabria Region, GAL BaTiR, ARSAC and Coopisa; the street food is run by local businesses, among them Villa Nunziatina, Torrefazione Due.Zero and Maretterra.

As the edition number shows, the festival has a long history. In 2024, according to the report released after the event, around 7,000 people came, with queues at the stands and heavy traffic on the SS184 road. In 2025 Sapori d'Autunno lasted a single day, Sunday 9 November, run by the Radici d'Aspromonte community cooperative, with free workshops and a concert by Dance Tarantella.

Getting there: by car and special ATAM bus

Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte sits at 567 metres above sea level in the hills behind Reggio Calabria. By car, leave the A2 motorway at Gallico and take the Gallico–Gambarie expressway to the Sant'Alessio junction, then drive up to the village. The sources do not mention dedicated parking: given the crowds of past years, it is worth arriving early.

From Reggio, the poster announces a special ATAM bus for the festival, leaving Piazza Garibaldi at 6pm and returning at the end of the event; it does not say on which of the two days, so check with ATAM or the municipality. In 2025 there was also a free shuttle from the Gallico–Gambarie junction: none has been announced for 2026.

Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte and Feel Aspromonte

With around 310 residents and 3.99 square kilometres, Sant'Alessio is the smallest municipality by area in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. Founded between the 13th and 14th centuries, it lives on olive oil, vegetables, dairy and timber; the central square has a monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi, who also gives his name to the street running through the village, home to the church of the Santissima Annunziata.

Through Feel Aspromonte, presented for the second year running at the TTG travel fair in Rimini, the municipality offers rural experiences: making ricotta with a local farm, visiting the old olive mill, an afternoon among the beehives. For other events the same weekend, see the events calendar.

Frequently asked questions

When is Sapori d'Autunno 2026 in Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte?

On Saturday 7 November 2026 from 5pm and Sunday 8 November from 11am, running until late on both days.

Is there an entrance fee?

The poster mentions no ticket for the festival and lists Saturday night's concert as free. Street food is bought at the stands; prices have not been published.

What time is the “Voglio tornare negli anni '90” concert?

On Saturday 7 November at 9.30pm in Via Roma, with free entry.

What is on the Sunday programme?

Stands and craft stalls from 11am, a DJ set by the Vespa Club at 11.30am, a vintage car parade at midday, the Palio delle botti at 4pm, a folk group at 5pm and street performers at 5.40pm.

Is there anything for children?

Yes: on Sunday there is children's entertainment from 11.30am until late, and the funfair is open every evening.

Is there a bus from Reggio Calabria?

The poster announces a special ATAM bus leaving Piazza Garibaldi at 6pm and returning at the end of the festival. It does not say which day, so check with ATAM or the municipality on +39 0965 741029.

How do I get there by car?

Leave the A2 at Gallico and follow the Gallico–Gambarie expressway to the Sant'Alessio junction. The sources do not mention dedicated parking.

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