Grape Festival

A day dedicated to the grape harvest

Every autumn, the village of Auletta, in the province of Salerno, dedicates a day to the grape harvest and the rural heritage that has defined life in the Tanagro Valley for centuries. The Grape Festival is not a large commercial fair; it is a community celebration created by the locals, transforming the historic squares into a vibrant stage for music, dance, and authentic flavors for an afternoon. Visitors will find an intimate, village-scale event where they can stroll, chat with residents, and sample local produce.

A procession through the village squares

The heart of the festival is the folk procession, which in recent years has departed in the early afternoon from the Casa delle Parole, winding its way up through the town center and stopping at each square along the route. It is accompanied by the sounds of traditional Campanian music—tambourines, accordions, and organettos—and the colorful costumes of the participants. Along the way, wine and local food tasting stations are set up, while the final performance takes place in Piazza Falcone e Borsellino, where the festivities continue with music and dancing until evening.

The Gruppo Folk Dirindindin and the festival's revival

The Grape Festival has deep roots in Auletta: for years, it was promoted by Antonio Gagliardi and became a symbol of the town's cultural identity. After a period of hiatus, the event was brought back to life thanks to the enthusiasm of the Gruppo Folk Dirindindin, a local group that now manages its organization and entertainment. Its members—including Roberta Cafaro, Rosanna Langone, and Luigi Gagliardi—bridge the gap between the memories of harvests past and a modern celebration that brings together families, young people, and visitors alike.

What to expect at the festival

• Wine and grape tastings, the absolute stars of the day;
• Food and wine stalls featuring local specialties;
• Live folk music and dancing in the squares with the Gruppo Folk Dirindindin;
• A traveling procession connecting the various points of the historic center;
• A convivial, village-style atmosphere, perfect for families.

Auletta, a village in the National Park

With just over two thousand inhabitants and an altitude of 249 meters, Auletta overlooks the Tanagro river at the foot of the Alburni Mountains, within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. It is a town that endured the 1980 earthquake and has spent years rebuilding its identity through the restoration of its old town and the promotion of its agricultural products. A few minutes away, you can visit the famous Pertosa-Auletta Caves, one of the most well-known cave systems in Southern Italy, while in the spring, the town hosts Bianco Tanagro, a festival dedicated to the local white artichoke. The Grape Festival is the autumn counterpart to this calendar: more intimate, community-focused, and deeply rooted in local identity.

When it takes place

The festival is traditionally held on a Sunday in October, once the harvest is complete. The 2025 edition took place on Sunday, October 5th, with the procession starting at 2:30 PM and the final show at 7:30 PM in Piazza Falcone e Borsellino; in 2024, the event was held on Sunday, October 27th. A date for 2026 has not yet been officially released: it is best to follow the channels of the Municipality of Auletta and the Gruppo Folk Dirindindin, which usually announce the program a few weeks before the event.