Carnevale in Comune - Santa Maria a Vico and Cervino

A carnival that unites two towns

The Carnevale in Comune is a winter event that brings together Santa Maria a Vico and the nearby town of Cervino, two municipalities in the province of Caserta located in the Suessola Valley, Campania. Instead of organizing two separate parades, the local administrations chose to create a single procession of allegorical floats that starts in Cervino, travels through the local districts, and arrives at Piazza Roma, the civic heart of Santa Maria a Vico. The result is a shared celebration that draws larger crowds and connects associations, neighborhood groups, and volunteers from both towns.

The grand parade of allegorical floats

The highlight is the grand parade on Shrove Tuesday. The floats—thirteen in the 2026 edition—gather at the small park on Via Monsignor Pascarella in Cervino and begin their journey in the early afternoon. The route passes through the Messercola district, where a stop with a show is scheduled at the Padre Pio park, before continuing along the main road connecting the two towns to reach Santa Maria a Vico. The streets fill with families, confetti, and streamers; the procession moves slowly to allow those watching from balconies and sidewalks to enjoy every single float.

Who builds the floats

The organizational backbone relies on the Oltre Ogni Confine and Il Veliero associations, which coordinate the construction of the allegorical floats alongside local groups. As with many traditional town carnivals in Southern Italy, the floats are the result of weeks of volunteer work: structures, papier-mâché, paint, and choreography are all prepared for just one afternoon of parading. It is a collective effort involving entire families, which explains why the day is so deeply felt by both communities.

Bottari, masks, and the Brazilian Show

Alongside the floats, masked groups and entertainment teams march, but the signature sound of the event comes from the Bottari della Cantica Popolare, led by Stany Ruggiero. The rhythm beaten on barrels, vats, and scythes is one of the most recognizable features of the Caserta folk tradition, giving the parade an identity that goes far beyond a simple masked procession. The finale features the Brazilian Show, with dancers, feathers, and Latin rhythms closing the day in the square.

A festival designed for children

While the floats are still on their way, Piazza Roma transforms into a large entertainment space: DJ sets, mascots, children's shows, magic, street performers, music, and dancing. This is the most popular part of the day for the little ones, who can dance and play in the square while waiting for the floats to arrive. Carnevale in Comune is effectively one of the most attended events of the year for the area, capable of filling the squares and bringing generations together.

Santa Maria a Vico, on the ancient Appian Way

The Municipality of Santa Maria a Vico has about 14,000 inhabitants and stretches entirely along the modern Via Appia, the state road 7 that follows the path of the ancient Roman artery here. The town preserves the Basilica of Maria Santissima Assunta, elevated to a minor basilica in 1957, and characteristic barrel-vaulted houses. It is served by the Benevento-Cancello railway line, which connects it to Naples in about forty minutes. Together with Cervino, Arienzo, and other nearby centers, it forms the Suessola Valley, an area in the province of Caserta with a very strong tradition of folk festivals, food fairs, and town carnivals.

When it takes place

Like all carnivals, the event has movable dates linked to the liturgical calendar. The 2026 edition took place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, with the grand afternoon parade from Cervino to Santa Maria a Vico. In 2025, the program was spread over several days, from February 23 to March 4, with the grand finale on Shrove Tuesday. It is therefore advisable to check the dates each year on the official channels of the two municipalities.