InFestArti

InFestArti: The Gargano between art and nature

InFestArti is a cultural event held in the town of Cagnano Varano, in the province of Foggia, in the heart of the Gargano promontory, Puglia. Launched in 2023, the festival combines live music, ethical gastronomy, art, multimedia, history, and environmental sustainability into a single widespread event, capable of attracting audiences from across the Gargano region and beyond. The theme chosen for the most recent edition, «Contaminate the world with beauty», perfectly captures the spirit of the festival: bringing high-quality culture to unusual and extraordinary locations.

A natural amphitheater on Lake Varano

The heart of InFestArti is the amphitheater of the Grotta di San Michele Arcangelo, a sacred Paleolithic cavity overlooking the evocative Lake Varano, the largest coastal lagoon in Italy. The cave, a site of worship for centuries, becomes a unique natural backdrop during the festival, illuminated by light displays that enhance its ancient rock formations. A guided tour of the site, accompanied by traditional Gargano folk songs, traditionally opens the event and introduces the public to the historical and spiritual depth of this place.

Music, ethical food, and sustainability

The InFestArti program is multidisciplinary. The stage hosts concerts ranging from Mediterranean traditional sounds to world music, featuring international guests. Significant space is dedicated to ethical food: cooking shows, hosted by local chefs and producers, highlight organic farming, short supply chains, and zero-kilometer consumption, creating a dialogue between gastronomic culture and environmental respect. There are also immersive multimedia experiences and installations that showcase the Gargano landscape.

An «invasive» festival

The organizers like to define InFestArti not just as a festival, but as an «invasive» species: much like wild herbs, the event propagates quality and biodiversity, rooting itself in the territory and spreading culture, art, and environmental awareness. Great attention is also paid to social inclusion, with projects dedicated to people with disabilities and those on the autism spectrum, making the event accessible and inclusive.

Who organizes InFestArti

The event is organized by the I AM APS association, with the patronage of the Municipality of Cagnano Varano and the support of the Apulia Region, alongside numerous local cooperatives and associations. The festival is part of a broader strategy to promote the Gargano, aiming to de-seasonalize cultural offerings and raise awareness of the lesser-known villages and landscapes in the province of Foggia.

The 2026 edition

The dates for the 2026 edition of InFestArti have not yet been announced. The event is usually held in the spring, between late April and early May: to find out the program and the official date, it is best to follow the channels of the organizing association and the Municipality of Cagnano Varano.