FolleFest

A day of art and counterculture on the Domitian coast

FolleFest is the annual event that, between late summer and autumn, transforms Mondragone into an open-air laboratory of art, music, and critical thinking. The festival takes place at Kromosoma 11 on Viale Campania, starting in the afternoon and continuing until night with concerts, art shows, readings, theatrical performances, and activities for children. This simple, grassroots format has made the festival a landmark for the Municipality of Mondragone and the entire Domitian coast in the Province of Caserta, Campania.

Born to remember Antonio Taglialatela

FolleFest was established in 2017 to commemorate Antonio Taglialatela, an activist, journalist, and former Councilor for Culture in Mondragone who passed away in April 2016. The first edition was a two-day event hosted at the local skate park, promoted by the Mondragone Città Possibile movement. More than fifty photographers, painters, performers, actors, videomakers, musicians, skaters, and illustrators responded to an open call and participated for free, showcasing dozens of works. Since then, the formula has remained unchanged: no fees for artists, high levels of participation, and a guiding slogan for every edition: "Those who have comrades never die."

Music, visual arts, theater, and literature

The festival is proudly multidisciplinary: in a single day, visitors can move from the band stage to collective art exhibitions, and from literary readings to children's workshops. Above all, it serves as a showcase for the province's emerging scene, providing a free, unfiltered space for expression.

• Concerts by local bands and singer-songwriters, ranging from rock and indie to rap and experimental music
• Collective exhibitions of photography, painting, and visual arts
• Literary readings, theatrical performances, and storytelling
• Entertainment and activities for children in the early afternoon
• Food and drink area and social spaces open to all

In the 2024 edition, for example, fifteen bands performed, spanning folk, rock, singer-songwriter, and experimental genres, alongside a thematic exhibition curated by photographers and visual artists, and an afternoon dedicated to children with entertainment and yoga.

Kromosoma 11, the home of the festival

For several years, the headquarters of FolleFest has been Kromosoma 11, a café-club on Viale Campania just a short walk from the municipal park, which transforms into a stage, gallery, and town square for the day. In the past, the event has occupied other city locations—from the skate park to the outdoor spaces of Bar Europa and the Kuruma Space Garden—always maintaining the same spirit: bringing culture to where people already gather.

A festival of civic engagement

FolleFest is more than just an arts festival; it is a platform for public discourse. Each edition addresses a current social or political issue, from human rights to international solidarity, and provides a voice for local associations and collectives. In 2025, the seventh edition was dedicated to solidarity with the Palestinian people, adopting the slogan "let's block everything," which the organizers intended as an invitation to block "the void, the stagnation, and the apathy" that immobilize the local community.

When and how to participate

The festival date changes from year to year; recent editions have taken place between mid-September and early November, always on a Saturday or public holiday, starting in the afternoon around 4:00 PM. Admission is free and open to everyone, including families. Those wishing to perform can respond to the public call issued by the organizers in the weeks leading up to the event via the FolleFest Facebook page.