Barbatàngheri! - International Festival of Puppetry and Folk Arts

The Paganella Puppetry Festival

Barbatàngheri! is the international festival of puppetry and folk arts that transforms the squares and streets of the Paganella Plateau, in the heart of Trentino, into open-air stages every summer. The event is promoted and organized by the Intermunicipal Library of the Paganella Brenta Plateau (Biblioteche della Paganella) and involves the municipalities of Andalo, Molveno, Cavedago, Fai della Paganella, and Spormaggiore, in the province of Trento.

A name rooted in tradition

The festival takes its name from the barbatàngheri, the traditional Trentino storyteller who would sell his stories to children by day and entertain adults in the evening during the filò—the popular gatherings in stables—often in exchange for nothing more than a glass of wine, a bowl of soup, and a spot to sleep in the hayloft. The festival draws inspiration from this wandering, charismatic figure, bringing the magic of storytelling and live performance back to the public squares.

Classic shows and street theater

The program features two complementary souls. On one hand, there are classic puppetry shows, including traditional booth puppets, string marionettes, and actor-led theater hosted across the plateau's various villages. On the other, there are days dedicated to buskers and street performers, who enliven the historic centers of Andalo and Molveno with jugglers, fire-eaters, musicians, mimes, puppeteers, and acrobats from Italy and across Europe.

• Andalo — the heart of the festival, featuring evening shows and street performers
• Molveno — buskers and performances in the historic center and along the lakefront
• Cavedago, Fai della Paganella, and Spormaggiore — puppet and marionette shows in the plateau's villages

An event for families

Barbatàngheri is designed for audiences of all ages: the wordless performances, composed of gestures, music, and objects coming to life, speak a universal language that captivates both children and adults. It is one of the most anticipated summer events on the Paganella Plateau and a wonderful way to discover the Trentino-Alto Adige region through theater, nature, and folk tradition.