Ca'pacciàmm Street Fest

The Cilento street theatre festival

The Ca'pacciàmm Street Fest is an international street theatre and performing arts festival that brings the historic centre of Capaccio Capoluogo—located in the municipality of Capaccio Paestum, in the province of Salerno, Campania—to life every summer. Established in 2016 through a collaboration between the Ca'pacciàmm association (active since 2014), CRASC, and the Baracca dei Buffoni company, the festival uses the alleys, squares, and courtyards of the ancient village as its natural stage, just a few kilometres from the temples of Paestum and the Cilento coast.

A village turned into a stage

For three consecutive evenings in August, the streets of the historic centre change their purpose: every square becomes a performance space, and the audience moves on foot from one setting to another, following the artists. In recent editions, performances have been spread across Piazza Tempone, Piazza Orologio, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Piazza del Comune, Piazzetta Di Lascio, and the Barberia, with staggered showtimes that allow visitors to catch almost the entire programme in a single evening.

• Street theatre and clowning: professional Italian and international companies performing comedy and physical theatre suitable for all ages.
• Acrobatics and aerial dance: breathtaking performances on silks and trapeze suspended above the village squares.
• Roaming music: brass and percussion street bands that march through the historic centre, drawing the crowd along with them.
• Puppetry: marionettes, puppets, and the traditional Neapolitan mask of Pulcinella.
• Juggling and fire shows, which typically close the evenings late at night.

Crafts, workshops, and a colourful village

The festival is more than just entertainment. Along the route, you will find craft markets featuring local artisans, art exhibitions showcasing local talent, and workshops for children designed to foster creativity and social interaction. One of the most iconic initiatives is the Il Borgo e i suoi colori (The Village and its Colours) painting event, which invites artists to paint views and houses of the historic centre live; the resulting works remain as a visual memory of the edition.

The food area and the flavours of the Cilento

A spacious food area accompanies the evening route, offering the culinary specialities of the Cilento region, the birthplace of the Mediterranean diet: local products, traditional peasant dishes, and regional wines. In past editions, prices have always been kept affordable, in line with the festival's popular and family-friendly spirit.

Why the festival matters to the region

The organisers' stated goal is to promote the historic centre of Capaccio Capoluogo and turn it into a tourist destination through street theatre, while simultaneously boosting the local economy. It is a successful gamble: according to the association, the festival has attracted a total of approximately 30,000 visitors over the years, breathing life into a hilltop village that might otherwise be overshadowed by the coastal area and the archaeological site of Paestum during the summer.

Organisers

The event is produced by the Associazione Ca'pacciàmm APS in partnership with the Hermes association and the Baracca dei Buffoni company, which handles the artistic direction, with the patronage of the Municipality of Capaccio Paestum and the Campania Region. The festival also enjoys the support of local partners and businesses.

When it takes place

The event is traditionally held in the second half of August, spanning three evenings that begin at dusk. The tenth edition is scheduled for 20–22 August 2026, as announced on the official website. It is advisable to check the detailed programme in the days leading up to the event, as it is usually published shortly before the start date.