Cilento Cherry Festival

The festival that turns Carullo into the village of cherries

When the first cherries ripen on the hills overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, the small hamlet of Carullo, in the municipality of Casal Velino (Province of Salerno, Campania), prepares to welcome visitors from all over Cilento. The Cilento Cherry Festival was born in 2015 from a shared idea among local youth: to celebrate the fruit that has defined this hillside corner for generations and to pay tribute to the elderly cherry growers who passed down its cultivation. Since then, the event has grown year after year, earning Carullo the affectionate nickname of "village of cherries."

A menu built around the cherry

The heart of the festival is the table. Each edition offers a menu entirely dedicated to cherries, featured in both sweet and savory dishes, alongside traditional Cilento recipes that highlight local flavors. The cherry is not just a fruit to be eaten fresh: here it becomes an ingredient in creative preparations and homemade preserves, following a domestic know-how that has never been lost in Cilento.

• Cherry-based desserts and baked goods
• Artisanal jams and preserves
• Locally produced liqueurs
• Creative dishes where the cherry meets Cilento cuisine
• Classic festival dishes for those who prefer tradition

Service at the stalls begins every evening at 8:00 PM and continues late into the night, with tables set up along the narrow streets and squares of the village.

Folk music and village atmosphere

Gastronomy is always accompanied by folk music, which in Cilento is an integral part of the festival identity: tarantellas, tammurriatas, and traditional songs accompany the evenings, keeping the square and visitors dancing until late. There is also entertainment for children every evening, making the event suitable for families looking for a carefree night out.

A festival created by the community

The festival is organized by the Carullo Socio-Cultural Association with the support of local businesses. It is an event entirely self-produced by the hamlet's inhabitants: setup, cooking, service, and hospitality are handled by volunteers, and this spirit of togetherness is likely the main reason for the significant turnout the event records every year. First-time visitors will find a genuine village festival, far from standardized tourist formulas.

Where it takes place and what to see nearby

Carullo sits at an altitude of about 341 meters, less than four kilometers from the center of Casal Velino, in an area of hills cultivated with cherry trees, olive groves, and vegetable gardens. The municipality of Casal Velino, in Campania, stretches from the hills to the sea: its marina, with its long beach and tourist port, is just a few minutes' drive away, allowing you to combine an evening at the festival with a day at the beach. All around lies the inland Cilento, made of perched villages, hiking trails, and a peasant cuisine that has set the standard.

Tips for your visit

• Arrive early: the village is small and seating fills up quickly on weekend evenings
• Bring a light jacket: at 341 meters, June evenings can be cool
• Allow a few minutes to walk from the parking area to the center of the hamlet
• Check the updated program on the Carullo Association's channels before setting off