Casalettana Festival

A festival rooted in local heritage

The Casalettana Festival is a summer cultural event organized by the RadiCa association in Casaletto Spartano, a village of just under 1,500 residents in the province of Salerno, in the heart of the Cilento region, Campania. Founded in April 2024 by a group of local youths, RadiCa has a clear mission: to promote active citizenship, community spirit, and the preservation of local traditions. The festival serves as the moment when this vision becomes visible to all, unfolding across the squares and narrow alleys of the village.

Identity, memory, and tradition

The festival follows a widespread, multidisciplinary format: rather than a single stage, it features a series of events moving from one square to another. Photography exhibitions, storytelling meetings, award ceremonies, folk music concerts, and food tastings alternate over three August evenings, when the village swells with the return of emigrants and vacationers. The common thread, as stated by the organizers, remains the same: the identity, memory, and traditions of the territory.

Festival venues

• Piazzetta San Giovanni — the intimate space where photography exhibitions are inaugurated;
• Piazza Santa Maria della Stella, in the Battaglia hamlet — the setting for storytelling and memory-focused meetings;
• Piazza Municipio — the heart of the village, hosting the final evening with the award ceremony and concerts.

The decision to include Battaglia, the only true hamlet of the municipality, is intentional: the event aims to represent the entire municipal territory, not just the town center.

The RadiCa Award

The most anticipated moment is the presentation of the RadiCa Award, a recognition given to those who contribute to the cultural and social development of the Cilento region. It is the gesture through which the festival reaches beyond the village borders to engage with the entire district, highlighting individuals and initiatives that keep the cultural life of this inland area vibrant, often far from major circuits.

Folk music and local flavors

The evenings conclude with music: accordions, folk revival groups, and traditional Lucanian-Cilentano ensembles accompany tastings of local products. Visitors can sample regional cheeses and Casaletto ham, the village's signature cured meat, alongside traditional rustic dishes. It is a simple and direct way to showcase the agricultural economy of this part of Cilento, defined by livestock farming, forests, and small-scale family production.

Casaletto Spartano, a village of water

Those arriving for the festival will find a village that takes water as its symbol. Just minutes from the center lies the Capelli di Venere Oasis, home to the waterfall that made the town famous and attracts hikers and visitors every year to the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. The village is also one of the most vibrant cultural hubs in the area: throughout the year, RadiCa also promotes A' Cuccìa, the popular May 1st feast, and Magnammu Assieme, the Casaletto communal banquet in July.

When it takes place

The festival is usually held in the first half of August: the second edition took place from August 10th to 12th, 2025. For 2026, the association has confirmed that the event is part of its annual calendar, but as of the writing of this guide, the exact dates and program have not yet been published. It is recommended to follow RadiCa's social media channels and the official communications from the Municipality of Casaletto Spartano for the official announcement.