AVIS Festival - "Le Mani Tese" National Solidarity Award

A festival dedicated to giving and solidarity

The AVIS Festival in Bitonto, in the province of Bari, is much more than an open-air concert: it is the grand celebration that the city dedicates every year to the highest value of the human community, the gift of life. The event takes place on the eve of World Blood Donor Day, celebrated globally on June 14th, and stems from the collaboration between AVIS Bitonto and the Le Mani Tese Association. Music, entertainment, crafts, and gastronomy intertwine with a strong civic message: donating blood means saving lives.

Piazza Cavour, the heart of the festival

The natural stage for the event is Piazza Cavour, in the center of Bitonto. From late afternoon, the square comes alive with craft markets curated by Confartigianato, food and wine stalls, and street performers who engage families, children, and curious visitors. As evening falls, the space turns into a true open-air theater, where live music and performances accompany the most anticipated moment: the awards ceremony.

The "Le Mani Tese" National Solidarity Award

The emotional core of the evening is the "Le Mani Tese" National Solidarity Award, a recognition bestowed upon women and men who, through their courage and altruism, have helped save human lives. Year after year, the award tells extraordinary stories of solidarity from all over Italy — from Campania to Puglia, Lombardy to Abruzzo, the Marche to Veneto — transforming pain into hope and individual examples into the community's civic heritage.

Music, entertainment, and crafts

Alongside the ceremonial part, the AVIS Festival offers an entertainment program designed for all ages: dance performances, live bands, tributes to great Italian music, and the participation of street artists. The formula blends the festive spirit of the Apulian square with a concrete commitment to the culture of giving, involving schools, associations, and local donors.

A free event for the whole family

Admission to the AVIS Festival in Bitonto is free. It is an evening designed to bring the city together around the values of generosity and closeness, in a festive atmosphere that draws hundreds of people to Piazza Cavour every year. An opportunity to have fun, taste local products, and, above all, rediscover the profound meaning of giving.