Ferragosto Casalese – Sea Procession for the Madonna dell'Assunta and Dawn Concert

Ferragosto Casalese in Casalbordino

The Ferragosto Casalese is the most anticipated event of the summer in Casalbordino, a town in the province of Chieti overlooking the Costa dei Trabocchi in Abruzzo. Every August 15th, the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, the Marina di Casalbordino comes alive to celebrate the Madonna dell'Assunta, venerated by the locals and patron saint of the local Civil Protection.

The Sea Procession

The most evocative and iconic moment of the festival is the sea procession. In the morning, the statue of the Virgin is taken aboard a boat and accompanied along the coast by a parade of festively decorated fishing boats, in a ritual that unites devotion with the community's deep connection to the sea. At the end of the procession, the statue reaches the shore and proceeds towards the Finis Terrae area, near Casette Santini, where a Solemn Holy Mass is celebrated in the presence of civil and religious authorities and numerous Civil Protection volunteers.

The Dawn Concert

The day opens with the Dawn Concert, a traditional event entrusted to maestro Simone Sala: the first light of morning on the beach provides the backdrop for an atmospheric concert, one of the rituals most beloved by locals and tourists who visit the Marina every year.

The Evening and Fireworks over the Sea

The evening of Ferragosto concludes with music and celebration. Concerts featuring orchestras and national guests take place on the promenade, followed by the famous fireworks display that illuminates the Adriatic Sea, providing the grand finale to the day.

A Tradition of the Costa dei Trabocchi

The sea procession of the Assunta in Casalbordino is a decades-old tradition, occasionally suspended in years marked by bad weather and rough seas, but always deeply rooted in the local identity. Included in the municipality's summer program (the now-famous Estatissima), the festival represents the highlight of the Casalbordino summer, capable of uniting prayer, memory, entertainment, and conviviality for the entire coastal Abruzzo community.