Cumvivere - The Table of Harmony

Cumvivere, the Table of Harmony in Vallesaccarda

Cumvivere - The Table of Harmony is a convivial event conceived and organized by Pro Loco Vallesaccarda APS in collaboration with the Municipality of Vallesaccarda, a village in the Baronia area of Avellino province, in the heart of Irpinia, Campania. For one August evening, Piazza Michele Addesa is transformed into a single, incredibly long outdoor dining table: residents, families returning home for the summer, and visitors sit side-by-side, with no distinction in seating.

The meaning of cum vivere

The event's name draws from the Latin cum vivere, meaning "to live together." The core idea is simple: the table as an ideal place to build bridges of communication, restore harmony, and value human relationships. It is not a festival in the classic sense, but an evening designed as a collective experience where food is the medium, not the end goal. The organizers, led by Sonia Cerullo and Gerardo Cipriano, describe it as a day dedicated to rediscovering the roots, traditions, and flavors of their land.

The best-decorated table contest

The most characteristic moment is the decorating contest: groups of participants set and decorate their own section of the long table following a specific theme. In the 2024 edition, nine tables competed with titles such as "Too spicy" and "Quiet Luxury"; the winner was "Pan e suc", a display based entirely on the simplicity of essential foods—tomato cans, basil, spaghetti, and red-and-white checkered tablecloths—capable of evoking memories of Sunday lunches at grandparents' houses. It is a sign of how the event asks the community to be the protagonist, not just a spectator.

Irpinian flavors in the square

The dinner brings the most authentic Irpinian cuisine to the table, prepared by local restaurants including Oasis Sapori Antichi and Minicuccio, which have created menus for past editions featuring dishes from peasant memory: zuppa r' svungulatiell, trill cu r' frecul, spezzatin cu salsicchi, and traditional local desserts. These recipes tell the story of Baronia far better than any brochure: humble in ingredients, generous in taste, and tied to agricultural cycles and village festivals.

Vintage games and folk music

The format includes an afternoon of warm-up activities with traditional square games designed to involve children and teenagers, followed by the communal dinner and, later, a folk music show: in 2024, I Botti di Re Ferdinando, a group tied to the Southern folk repertoire, took the stage. Between courses, people dance, sing, and chat until late at night, in a square that remains the true scenic center of the event.

Vallesaccarda and the Baronia

Vallesaccarda is a small town in Upper Irpinia, overlooking the Ufita Valley, in an area of hills, wheat, and olive groves that has made cuisine one of its hallmarks. Like many inland villages in Campania, it experiences the paradox of depopulation and summer return: in August, the streets fill with those who emigrated and are coming back home. Cumvivere was born from this, as an opportunity to bring together, at least for one evening, a community that is scattered for the rest of the year.

When it takes place

The event is traditionally held in mid-August as part of the Municipality's summer program: the 2024 edition took place on Sunday, August 11th, and the 2025 edition on Monday, August 11th, both in Piazza Michele Addesa. As of the update of this page, the 2026 summer program does not yet list an official date for Cumvivere: it is advisable to check the channels of Pro Loco Vallesaccarda APS and the Municipality before traveling.