A sagra not to be missed in October is surely the 22nd “Sagra del Gnocco Fritto”, held in the picturesque village of Castello di Serravalle, on the Apennines near Bologna.
The gnocco fritto, a tasty specialty of the Emilia-Romagna region, is fried dough that you fill with either salumi (cold cuts) or formaggi (cheeses) - or both.
The event, held for the next three weekends (October 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19), will feature food stands, music and shows, and an attempt to make the longest gnocco fritto by beating the current World Guinness Record of 41 meters. Regulations state that the gnocco must not break once fried.
On the weekend of the 18-19, the sagra transforms into “Gnoctober Fest”, when lots of beer from Germany will help wash down the fried delicacy. The popular Bolognese singer Andrea Mingardi will host a concert on the last evening of the festival.