Casamale Summer Fest
Music, workshops, and participatory art in the historic village of Somma Vesuviana
About Casamale Summer Fest
A festival born within the village
The Casamale Summer Fest is a free summer event held in Borgo Casamale, the ancient core of the town of Somma Vesuviana, in the province of Naples, Campania. The first edition took place in July 2024, when a group of local youths, coordinated by Michele D'Avino alongside the Amici del Casamale and Tramandars associations, decided to bring music and people back to a often-overlooked part of the town. Over three editions, the initiative has evolved from a single evening of concerts into a full day of activities spread across squares, alleys, and community spaces.
Casamale, the ancient heart of Somma Vesuviana
Casamale is the fortified village of Somma Vesuviana, enclosed by Aragonese walls and dominated by the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which overlooks the square where much of the festival takes place. It is the same village that hosts the famous Festa delle Lucerne in August: a labyrinth of narrow alleys, courtyards, and arches, nestled on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius within the National Park. The festival was born from this very identity, with the aim of keeping the village alive all year round, not just during major holidays.
Live music and new Vesuvius-area voices
The evening is the most anticipated moment: from 7:00 PM, Piazza Collegiata becomes an open-air stage dedicated primarily to the independent music scene of the Vesuvius area. Past editions have featured a mix of singer-songwriters, emerging bands, and local artists, hosted by local presenters with a final DJ set at the Hubside space. The program prioritizes self-produced projects and young local musicians, fostering intergenerational exchange rather than a large commercial event.
Workshops, participatory art, and guided tours
Alongside the music, the festival offers daytime activities designed for families and curious visitors. The historic center turns into an open-air workshop with free activities that, in the 2026 edition, included:
- readings of Vesuvius-area fairy tales for children;
- an acroyoga session for adults at the Hubside;
- a folk music workshop with local musicians;
- embroidery and cultivation workshops, led by local artisans and a local farm;
- live painting and sculpting with visual artists;
- a historical-artistic guided tour of the village, titled "from history to contemporary art."
Crafts, taste, and community
The route features a craft market and food and beverage stalls managed by local village businesses—a deliberate choice, as the festival is also intended as an economic boost for Casamale's shops and venues. There are no major sponsors: the organization is self-funded and non-profit, and all activities remain free for the public.
Why it's worth visiting
The Casamale Summer Fest is not a large-scale festival, and that is precisely its charm: you can wander through the alleys, step into community spaces, listen to music just a few meters from the artists, and meet the community that calls the village home. For those visiting the Vesuvius area in July, it is a unique way to experience Somma Vesuviana, just a few kilometers from Naples, Pompeii, and the Vesuvius crater.
When it takes place
The event is traditionally scheduled for July, in a single day: July 5th in 2024, July 19th in 2025, and July 12th in 2026 for the third edition. Dates are announced by the organizing associations and local press a few weeks in advance, usually at the beginning of the month.
Casamale Summer Fest — edition 2026
Casamale Summer Fest 2026 — third edition
On July 12, 2026, the ancient village of Somma Vesuviana hosted the third edition of the Casamale Summer Fest. Compared to the first two, the 2026 edition significantly expanded the daytime program: the historic center transformed into an open-air workshop starting from the morning, with activities designed for all ages distributed between Piazza Collegiata, the alleys of Casamale, and the Hubside spaces.
The afternoon was dedicated to experiential workshops—folk music, embroidery, cultivation, live art—followed by a historical-artistic guided tour of the village. From 7:00 PM, the square in front of the Collegiate Church hosted musical performances, live painting, a pole dance show, and the craft market, with food and beverage provided by local businesses. The evening concluded with a DJ set in the Hubside space. As in previous editions, admission was free for the entire program.
Programme Casamale Summer Fest 2026
Morning
- 10:00 AM — Acroyoga workshop with the Napoli LEM school, at Hubside
- 10:00 AM — Reading of Vesuvius-area fairy tales for children with Simona Seraponte and Rita Cioffi
Afternoon
- from 5:00 PM — Folk music workshop with Luigi «Bacogn» Ruopolo, Vittorio D'Avino, Mimmo Angrisani, and Matteo Di Monda
- from 5:00 PM — Embroidery workshop with Rosangela Angri and Filomena Vernillo
- from 5:00 PM — Cultivation workshop by the Nastà farm
- 6:30 PM — Historical-artistic guided tour of Borgo Casamale «from history to contemporary art», with Domenico and Tani Russo
Evening — Piazza Collegiata
- from 7:00 PM — Musical performances by Antonio Alaia, Ciccio Rea, Debora Sacco, Alex the bug, Morenachiara, and PeppOh
- Evening guests: Raffica and Carla Fucci
- Live painting and sculpting by Apotheca Nova
- Pole dance show with Martina Castaldo
- Fortune telling with Alessia Urraro
- Craft market
- Food and beverage by local businesses
- Closing — DJ set at Hubside with Osama Beer Lager
Highlights Casamale Summer Fest 2026
- Third edition, Sunday, July 12, 2026, from 10:00 AM until night
- Free workshops in folk music, embroidery, cultivation, and acroyoga
- Reading of Vesuvius-area fairy tales for children
- Guided tour of Borgo Casamale «from history to contemporary art» at 6:30 PM
- Concerts in Piazza Collegiata with local artists, live painting, and craft market
- Final DJ set at Hubside
Prices Casamale Summer Fest 2026
Practical information — Casamale Summer Fest
Location
Borgo Casamale, Piazza Collegiata and adjacent alleys, with activities also at the Hubside spaces — 80049 Somma Vesuviana (NA), Campania.
How to get there
- By car: A16 Naples-Canosa motorway, exit Pomigliano d'Arco, then take the SS268 del Vesuvio; or via the Naples Ring Road and SS7bis. Parking is available on streets around the historic center: the village is best explored on foot.
- By train: Circumvesuviana line (EAV) Naples-Baiano, stop Somma Vesuviana, a few minutes' walk from the center.
- By plane: Naples-Capodichino Airport, approximately 15 km away.
Admission and prices
Free entry to all activities, including workshops and concerts. Only food and beverage purchases at the stalls and items at the craft market are paid.
Practical tips
- The village alleys are paved with stone and occasionally steep: comfortable shoes are recommended.
- Some workshops have limited capacity: it is advisable to arrive early or check for booking requirements on the associations' social media channels.
- The day continues until late evening: in July, temperatures remain mild after sunset, but the afternoon can be hot.
- The festival pairs well with a visit to the Monumental Complex of Santa Maria del Pozzo and the Aragonese walls of Casamale.
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Where does it take place — Casamale Summer Fest
Borgo Casamale — Piazza Collegiata
Piazza Collegiata, 80049 Somma Vesuviana