Cervinara Carnival

The most anticipated Carnival in the Valle Caudina

The Cervinara Carnival is a folk festival that transforms Cervinara, a town in the province of Avellino, Campania, into an open-air stage every year between February and March. For a few days, the town center, the Villa Comunale, and the numerous hamlets scattered along the slopes of the Partenio mountains fill with masks, music, allegorical floats, and folk groups. This is no simple parade: in Cervinara, the Carnival is above all a collective memory, a ritual passed down from generation to generation.

The 'Ndrezzata, the Carnival's war dance

The most iconic moment of the event is the 'Ndrezzata, an ancient war dance inspired by the homonymous tradition from the island of Ischia. It is performed by at least twelve local couples who move with rhythmic, spectacular steps, punctuated by the striking of wooden clubs: a symbolic battle between men and women that local memory links to a legendary clash from the post-unification era. It is a physical, noisy, and engaging choreography performed in the town's main squares, well worth the trip to the Valle Caudina.

The Quadriglia and local folk groups

Alongside the 'Ndrezzata, there is the Quadriglia, a peasant dance of French origin that has long been part of the local Carnival repertoire and is even danced by children. The performances are entrusted to local groups who work year-round to prepare for the festivities:

• the 'Ndrezzata Folk Group of the Pro Loco Cervinara;
• the Cervinballo Association, which manages the quadriglia, including the children's version;
• the Quadriglia group from Rotondi, a neighboring town in the Valle Caudina;
• the «Ogni Oltre Confine» Association, dedicated to creating the allegorical floats and choreographies.

Allegorical floats, entertainment, and hamlets

The program alternates between the arrival and parade of allegorical floats, entertainment for children in the Villa Comunale—games, baby dance, face painting, masquerade parades, and workshops to create your own mask—and traveling performances in the squares and districts. Piazza Castello, Piazza Regina Elena Ferrari, Piazza Trescine, Via Roma, and the villages of Lagno, Valle, and Pantanari become stages for the folk groups, ensuring the festival reaches every corner of the town, hamlet by hamlet.

An intangible heritage recognized by the Campania Region

The Cervinara Carnival is recognized by the Campania Region as an intangible cultural heritage and is listed in the intangible heritage catalog curated by Scabec. This recognition is more than formal: it certifies the value of a living practice, passed down by local families, and supports the work of those who keep it alive. For the Cervinara community, the festival is a moment to celebrate local cultural heritage, strengthen identity, and pass traditions on to new generations.

Who organizes the festival

The event is organized by the Pro Loco Cervinara «A. Renna» APS, with the support of the Municipality of Cervinara and the collaboration of various local associations, including CambiaMenti APS and A Cruce Salus APS. In recent editions, the municipal administrations of San Martino Valle Caudina and Rotondi have also facilitated the event, a sign of a Carnival that now belongs to the entire valley rather than just the town of Cervinara.

When to go and what to expect

The festivities are concentrated during the Carnival period, culminating on Shrove Tuesday, when folk groups parade from square to square until evening. In 2025, the events took place from March 1st to 4th, while the 2026 edition was held in February. Admission is free: just arrive in town, follow the sound of the wooden clubs, and let yourself be swept away by the procession. A tip: dress warmly and comfortably, as most events take place outdoors and involve moving around.