Festival of the 4 Lights - The Fairy Tale of Fairy Tales

Two evenings of fairy tales in the heart of Sapri

The Festival of the 4 Lights is one of the most distinctive summer events in Sapri, a town in the province of Salerno, at the southern tip of the Cilento region and Campania. For two evenings, Via Mazzini is transformed into an illuminated scenic route, where performances, costumed artists, and food stalls alternate. Each edition chooses a different theme and translates it into installations, living tableaux, and performances: in 2025, the references were Dantesque, while in 2026, the world of fairy tales serves as the common thread.

"The Fairy Tale of Fairy Tales," the theme of the 2026 edition

The edition scheduled for August 1st and 2nd, 2026, is presented as the third and bears the title "The Fairy Tale of Fairy Tales." The town center becomes an immersive path through fantastic characters and storybook atmospheres, with an invitation to "experience the magic of fairy tales where dreams ignite under the stars of Sapri." Compared to the previous edition, built on the symbols of the Divine Comedy, the tone is lighter and openly aimed at children and families who flock to the Gulf of Policastro during those days.

How the evenings unfold

The two evenings have an identical structure, so those arriving only on Saturday or only on Sunday will not miss any part of the route.

• 8:15 PM — Opening show, which kicks off the journey along Via Mazzini.
• 8:30 PM — Opening of food stalls and start of performances along the entire route.
• 11:00 PM — Final parade with all the costumed artists.

The format is that of a street festival: there are no stages or assigned seats; the public walks and encounters the scenes one after another, stopping wherever they prefer. Those with small children can walk only the first section and turn back without any issues.

The food stalls

Along the route, food stalls managed by local associations and businesses are set up, featuring traditional Cilento dishes and products. It is no coincidence that one of the previous editions bore the subtitle "Flavors and Scents of Cilento": the food and wine aspect is not a side dish but one of the souls of the event, along with art, entertainment, and the spiritual dimension that the organizers have always championed.

A festival born from the community

The event is organized by the Immacolata parish group of Sapri and has received the patronage of the Province of Salerno and the Municipality of Sapri. The work is largely voluntary: costumes, installations, and sets are created by parish groups and local youth, with the involvement of Via Mazzini merchants. It is this choral dimension that gives the festival its character, far removed from events planned in a boardroom, and explains why it has already become a highly anticipated appointment in just a few editions.

Sapri and the Gulf of Policastro

Sapri marks the southern end of the Campanian coastline, overlooking the Gulf of Policastro, between the two rocky spurs that enclose the town. It is the city linked to the memory of the Carlo Pisacane expedition and the literary figure of the "Spigolatrice," celebrated by another summer event in Sapri. The Festival of the 4 Lights fits into a busy summer calendar that makes the center and the seafront the two poles of evening life from July to late August: an evening here easily combines with the sea of the gulf and excursions in the Cilento National Park.

Who it is designed for

• Families with children: they are the target audience for the 2026 edition, with recognizable fairy-tale characters and accessible evening hours.
• Fans of street theater and outdoor performing arts.
• Cilento tourists looking for an evening on foot in the center, without needing to drive.
• Curious visitors of community festivals, where religious and popular aspects coexist naturally.