Forino Folk Festival - International Folk Group Gathering

The world takes the stage in Petruro di Forino

The Forino Folk Festival, also known as the International Folk Group Gathering, is the event that brings the ancient village of Petruro—a hamlet of Forino in the province of Avellino, in the heart of Irpinia—to life every summer. For a few evenings in early August, the village squares and streets welcome folk music and dance troupes from all over the world, in a cultural exchange that has become one of the longest-running folklore events in Campania.

Since 1992, a history of cultural exchange

The first edition of the gathering dates back to 1992, when the Gruppo Folk «Ballo 'o Ntreccio» of Petruro began inviting groups they had met at international folklore festivals to Irpinia. Since then, the event has grown year after year, reaching its 25th edition in 2025. The festival is built on reciprocity: the local group is a regular guest at festivals abroad, such as the Adriatica Folk Festival in Crikvenica, Croatia, and maintains friendships forged over thirty years of exchanges.

The «Ballo 'o Ntreccio», the identity of Petruro

The symbolic heart of the event is the Ballo 'o Ntreccio, an ancient Irpinian dance linked to the Petruro Carnival: a processional dance where performers weave and unweave a series of colored ribbons to the rhythm of music. It is the signature performance that the local group presents to foreign guests and one of the most anticipated moments of the evenings, as it captures the folk identity of this corner of Irpinia in just a few minutes.

Guest groups and nations

Over the various editions, troupes from dozens of countries have taken the stage in Petruro, each with their own costumes, instruments, and repertoires.

• Latin America and the Caribbean: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Cuba, Martinique
• Europe and the Caucasus: Spain, Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey, Georgia
• Africa: Kenya, Egypt, South Africa
• Asia and Oceania: Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, New Zealand, Polynesia, Kamchatka
• Italy: The Gruppo Folk «Ballo 'o Ntreccio» of Petruro and other groups from Campania, including the tarantella school of Montemarano

International Folk Expo, crafts, and gastronomy

Alongside the stage, the festival hosts the International Folk Expo, a market bringing together Italian and international exhibitors and artisans with typical products and traditional crafts. There is also an area dedicated to Irpinian and Campanian gastronomy, with tastings of local dishes and products to accompany the evenings. In recent years, the program has added Holy Colors, a collective festival of colored powders dedicated to integration and peace among peoples, followed by a DJ set to close the event.

When it takes place and the atmosphere

The gathering is traditionally held in the first few days of August: in 2025, it took place on August 2nd and 3rd, while in the past it spanned several consecutive evenings, from August 5th to 8th. Performances take place outdoors in the evening and are designed for audiences of all ages: families, folk dance enthusiasts, and curious visitors. There is no clear separation between the stage and the audience, as guest groups often invite spectators to join in the group dances.

Forino and Irpinia around the festival

Forino is located just a few kilometers from Avellino, the capital of Irpinia, and the hamlet of Petruro preserves the layout of the old village, with its stone houses and narrow alleys that become natural backdrops for the shows in summer. For those visiting Campania off the beaten path, the Forino Folk Festival is an opportunity to discover an inland area defined by rural traditions, craftsmanship, and mountain and hill cuisine that finds one of its most authentic strongholds in the province of Avellino.