Grape Festival

A festival born from the harvest

The Grape Festival in Oliveto Citra is one of the most iconic events of the Campanian autumn. The town, perched on the hills of the Sele Valley in the province of Salerno, is located in an area rich in vineyards and olive groves. This inspired the 1973 launch of a popular celebration dedicated to the grape harvest, designed to showcase local customs and traditions. Over fifty years later, the festival remains organized by the Pro Loco Oliveto Citra, with every aspect crafted by local volunteers and neighborhood groups.

Allegorical floats: sculptures made of grapes

The visual highlight of the event is the parade of allegorical floats entirely covered in grape berries. These are no mere decorations; the floats are true sculptures created using a mosaic technique, with each grape applied individually to large thematic structures. Teams of volunteers from various districts spend weeks on this labor of love, competing in creativity based on a different theme each year. In 2025, for instance, the festival was dedicated to a journey through historical eras. The parade winds through the village streets accompanied by folk groups, culminating in Piazza Europa, where the floats are presented to the public.

Folklore, music, and the National Review

The Grape Festival is held in conjunction with the National Folklore Review, which brings costumed groups from across Italy to Oliveto Citra. Tarantellas, tammorras, work songs, and traditional dances enliven the squares and alleys throughout the event. In the evenings, the stages host concerts by artists known for Southern folk and singer-songwriter music. Recent editions have featured performers such as Tony Tammaro, Enzo Avitabile with the Bottari di Portico, and Antonio Castrignanò with Taranta Sound. It is one of the rare occasions where the inland Campania region showcases its musical heritage in an authentic, non-touristy village setting.

The taste: wine, local products, and vineyard lunches

The culinary experience is central to the event. Along the festival route, stands and markets offer local products from the Sele Valley and the Picentini Mountains. Tasting trails, such as Notte DiVino and Gusto DiVino, allow visitors to sample local wines paired with traditional peasant dishes. Highlights include lunches in the vineyard between the rows of vines and community meals hosted by the Pro Loco, alongside conferences on viticulture and the future of inland areas—a sign that the festival also serves as a moment for economic reflection for the territory.

The lighthearted Cart Race

Among the most anticipated events is the Lighthearted Cart Race, a competition of handcrafted, engine-less carts that speed down the village's sloping streets before cheering crowds. Originally a bit of fun among local youth, it has become a signature moment of the festival, with open registration and costumed teams. The experience is rounded out by traditional barrel games, workshops for children, and guided tours of the village's heritage sites.

Why visit

• An uninterrupted tradition since 1973, making it one of the longest-running events in the province of Salerno.
• Unique floats in Italy, built grape-by-grape with the harvest's bounty.
• Italian folk groups and concerts featuring Southern folk music.
• Tastings of wines and Sele Valley products at affordable village prices.
• An entire village involved: the festival is lived in the streets, not behind closed gates.

Visitors arriving in Oliveto Citra for the Grape Festival find a town dressed in colors and scents, welcoming guests with the natural warmth of the Campania hinterland—an authentic experience far removed from manufactured festivals.