Forino Carnival and Petruro Carnival

The Forino Carnival, a hallmark of the valley's identity

In the heart of western Irpinia, at the foot of the mountains separating the Avellino area from the Nola plains, the Municipality of Forino experiences its most cherished event in February. The Forino Carnival is not just a single parade, but a cycle of days that visits the main town and the hamlets of Celzi and Petruro one after another: each village has its own procession, meeting point, and audience. Local media have dubbed it the "little Viareggio of the South," a definition that captures the immense craftsmanship behind the increasingly elaborate and impressive allegorical floats.

The Ballo o' Ntreccio, the heart of tradition

The element that makes this festival unique throughout Campania is the Ballo o' Ntreccio, a dancing procession where performers weave hoops decorated with colorful ribbons to the rhythm of the Forino tarantella, known as Martignanese. The folk group bearing this name was founded in 1983 in Petruro with the goal of preserving and passing down local traditions: today, it includes over forty members, including dancers, musicians, and traditional masks, accompanied by the ciaramella (folk oboe), accordion, and percussion.

The repertoire extends beyond the hoop dance. Throughout the festival, other forms of popular Irpinian folk theater take center stage:

• la Zeza con i mestieri, a carnival farce representing the trades of the past;
• la Storia di Carnevale, recited and sung in the town square;
• il Carcere di Pulcinella, featuring the masks of Pulcinella, Zeza, Don Nicola, Vicenzella, the Scrivanotto, and the Judge;
• la Zingaresca, a dance with gypsy-inspired themes;
• quadrilles, Neapolitan tarantellas, tammurriatas, and folk songs.

The Petruro Carnival and regional recognition

The hamlet of Petruro preserves the oldest part of the tradition. The Zeza was introduced there in the late 19th century, and the Petruro Masquerade was revived several times in the 1920s before its modern structure was established in the 1980s. In 2025, the Petruro Carnival was officially included in the IPIC (Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Campania), thanks to the candidacy submitted by the Lupetti Petruresi 1964 Association and the Ballo o' Ntreccio Folk Group: a recognition that certifies the historical significance of the practice and its value as a pillar of community identity.

The most characteristic feature of Shrove Tuesday in Petruro is the hospitality in private homes: families in the various districts open their doors to the folk group, offering performers traditional dishes and local wine. It is a ritual of hospitality that turns the parade into a journey through the heart of the village.

Floats, associations, and community life

The Forino carnival is an entirely volunteer-driven endeavor. Numerous local entities contribute to its realization: the Ballo o' Ntreccio Folk Group, the Lupetti Petruresi Association, O' Vic' Re' Monache, Forino Beach, Professional Dance, Area Danza, Libertas Forino, and the Amici di Contrada. During the festival days, guest groups from the Irpinian tradition join in, such as I Tarantellati di Volturara and Li Squacqualacchiun di Teora, bringing other variations of Campanian folk music to the streets.

What to expect

Visitors arriving in Forino during the carnival days will find streets filled with confetti, children in masks, dance schools performing along the route, and allegorical floats moving slowly through crowds of spectators. Parades generally start from via Annunziata in Forino, the Celzi roundabout on the S.P. 88, and via Monastero in Petruro, concluding in the square with dances, shows, and social gatherings. Participation is free, and the event takes place entirely outdoors.

Forino and the Province of Avellino

Known as the "city of the seven hills" due to the amphitheater of peaks surrounding it, Forino is located just a few kilometers from Avellino, in a valley that serves as a gateway between Irpinia and the Nola plains. The carnival is the perfect opportunity to discover a town that thrives on agriculture, craftsmanship, and peasant memory, and to include it in a broader itinerary exploring the villages of Irpinia, the Fiano and Greco vineyards, and the sanctuaries of the Campanian hinterland.