Auletta Carnival

A village Carnival in the heart of the Tanagro

In Auletta, a village of just over two thousand residents overlooking the Tanagro valley, the Carnival is not a tourist spectacle but a day the community builds for itself. The Municipality of Auletta, in the province of Salerno within the Campania region, promotes an annual event «rich in color, music, and tradition» that brings together families, young people, and visitors from neighboring towns. The allegorical floats are born in the preceding months through the voluntary work of local groups and associations: papier-mâché, paint, and plenty of patience, with themes that wink at current events and satire, as per the Italian carnival tradition.

The allegorical float parade

The highlight is the parade, which kicks off in the afternoon from Via Provinciale, near the town hall. From there, the procession travels through the village, climbing the streets of the center up to the area adjacent to the Casa delle Parole, the cultural space that hosts the finale of the festivities. Behind and around the floats walk the masked groups: costumed children, groups of friends, and music blaring from sound systems mounted on trailers. The route is short and flat in the first part, making the parade easy to follow even with strollers or when accompanying elderly people.

Entertainment, music, and fried calzoni

When the procession reaches its destination, the party doesn't end. The area around the Casa delle Parole transforms into a small performance square, with entertainment for children, DJ music throughout the evening, and food stalls. The signature dish is the fried calzone, the classic Southern carnival treat, served here alongside drinks and refreshments prepared for the occasion. This is the moment when the event shows its most authentic nature: not a staged event, but a village evening where people stop to chat, dance, and eat together.

Auletta, between the Alburni and Vallo di Diano

It is worth arriving a few hours early. Auletta is known for its ancient village, the historic core scarred by the 1980 earthquake and now transformed into a path of memory and rebirth, and is located in a strategic position between the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park and the Tanagro valley. The Carnival is, in fact, one of the moments when the village shows its best side: shops open, alleys filled with music, and families in the streets. During the same week, many other towns in the Vallo di Diano and Cilento areas organize their own parades, making the Carnival weekend a small circuit to explore from village to village.

An event for families

If you are looking for a child-friendly Carnival, away from the crowds of the major national events, Auletta is a happy choice.

• Free admission: the parade can be followed freely along the village streets.
• Afternoon schedule, compatible with children's routines.
• Children's entertainment and music after the procession arrives.
• Fried calzone tasting and beverage point on site.
• Reserve date already planned in case of bad weather: the party is rescheduled for the following Sunday.

When it takes place

The Auletta Carnival is held in the second half of February or early March, depending on the movable Lenten calendar, always on a Sunday. In 2026, the event fell on Sunday, February 15, with a postponement planned for February 22 in case of rain. For confirmation of the following edition, it is advisable to follow the channels of the Municipality of Auletta or call the municipal switchboard: in small villages, official communication often arrives just a few weeks before the event.