A celebration of the pumpkin! In the town of San Carlo, near Varese, just a 10-minute drive away, a festival dedicated entirely to the orange vegetable—the pumpkin—is held twice a year (August for the summer celebration and October for the autumn celebration).

The festival features pumpkin decorations, market stalls, and cooking stations offering a variety of dishes, from antipasti to pasta, main courses, and desserts. It’s a local and authentic atmosphere, a gastronomic celebration, and an opportunity to experience an Italian tradition centered entirely around a single vegetable. The festival is also held in the town of Gavirate on the lakeshore.