Andretta Carnival

A village carnival in the heart of Alta Irpinia

The Andretta Carnival is the annual event that, between February and March, fills the streets of Andretta—a small town in the province of Avellino, Campania—with masks, music, and confetti. This is not a carnival of massive crowds or television stages; it is a festival built by the community, where allegorical floats are crafted in the weeks prior in local garages and sheds, and the parade serves as an opportunity for everyone—from children to the town's elders—to come together.

The allegorical float parade

The highlight of the day is the parade, which starts in the afternoon from Piazza Francesco Tedesco, the town's main gathering spot. From there, the procession of masks and floats moves through the town center amidst music and colors, with residents cheering from balconies and sidewalks. The hand-decorated floats often feature current events, popular characters, or themes related to the daily life of the Andretta community.

• Parade departure from Piazza Francesco Tedesco
• Procession of masks and allegorical floats through the village streets
• Music and entertainment along the entire route
• Free participation for all ages, with costumes encouraged

The party continues at the Social Center

At the end of the route, the festivities move to the Andretta Social Center, where organizers host entertainment for children, accompanied by food and drinks for all. This is the most convivial part of the day: families gather indoors, children stay in costume until evening, and the afternoon winds down at a relaxed pace, just as it should in a true village festival.

Organized by the Youth Forum

The Andretta Carnival is promoted by the Andretta Youth Forum, the town's youth participation body, which has made this festival one of its signature events alongside summer initiatives. The members of the Forum coordinate the construction of the floats, the parade route, and the final entertainment, with the support of the Municipality and local associations. The format of the festival can vary: in 2024, for example, the carnival was concentrated into a masquerade party at the Social Center with entertainment, inflatables, and a buffet, while in 2025, the classic street parade returned.

Carnival in Irpinia: a living tradition

Visitors arriving in Andretta during this period will discover that the carnival in Irpinia is not an isolated event but part of a widespread calendar. Nearby towns host deeply rooted traditions: the masks and dances of Montemarano, the Paternopoli Carnival, the historic carnival of Castelvetere sul Calore, the 'zeza' gatherings, and the fire ritual of the 'Spogliamento' in Sant'Andrea di Conza. These folk traditions blend music, rural theater, satire, and end-of-winter rites, making the province of Avellino one of the most fascinating areas in the South for lovers of authentic folklore. The Andretta Carnival fits into this fabric with a more familiar, local feel, but with the same spirit.

Andretta, a stone village at 850 meters

Andretta is located at an altitude of about 850 meters on a ridge in Alta Irpinia. It preserves the medieval layout of its historic center, including the remains of its castle. The town is known for its Museum of Peasant and Artisan Civilization and for the artistic craftsmanship of local stone, visible in the portals and architectural details of the village houses. With fewer than two thousand inhabitants, the town thrives on community events like this: participating in the carnival also means wandering through alleys and stairways that tell centuries of history.

Why it's worth a visit

The Andretta Carnival doesn't promise grand spectacles, but it offers something that more famous carnivals have often lost: the feeling of being inside the party rather than just watching a show. It is the perfect occasion for a Sunday afternoon with the family in Alta Irpinia, perhaps combining the parade with a stroll through the village and a gastronomic stop at one of the local eateries.