Mileto Folk Fest

The Mileto Folk Fest

The Mileto Folk Fest is a young yet already beloved festival dedicated to folk music and dance, held in Torre Mileto, a charming seaside location in the municipality of San Nicandro Garganico, in the province of Foggia, in the heart of the Gargano. The event was founded in 2024 to celebrate the musical traditions of the Gargano region and, more broadly, the sounds of Southern Italy and beyond, in a place where the ancient watchtower and the sound of the sea become an integral part of the performance.

A project by Aria Sonora

The event was conceived and organized by the traditional dance group Aria Sonora, under the artistic direction of Antonio Russo and the choreographic direction of Simona Russo. The festival is held under the patronage of the Municipality of San Nicandro Garganico and the local Pro Loco, a testament to the project's strong local roots. The stated goal is clear: to share and pass on the pizzica, Gargano folk songs, and tammurriate, involving the audience directly rather than keeping them as mere spectators.

Workshops and concert

The Mileto Folk Fest format alternates an afternoon of free workshops open to everyone with a major evening concert. In the late afternoon, lessons in Salento pizzica are held, led by Antonio and Simona Russo, along with a workshop on the frame drum using pizzica technique. In the evening, the Tower transforms into a natural stage for a show of music and dance, uniting dance troupes and musicians in a collective celebration under the stars.

The sounds of the Gargano and the South

The stage features a blend of Salento pizzica, Gargano folk songs, and Campanian tammurriate: a journey through the folk traditions of the South, where the tambourine marks the rhythm and dance becomes a community ritual. Alongside Aria Sonora, past editions have featured Sonabbash, a folk music group from the province of Treviso with Gargano roots, bringing their music back home in an ideal circle between North and South.

In Torre Mileto, between tower and sea

The choice of Torre Mileto is no coincidence: the strip of land between Lake Lesina and the Adriatic, dominated by the remains of the coastal tower, offers a unique setting for a festival that aims to be popular in the truest sense of the word. In just a few editions, the Mileto Folk Fest has established itself as one of the most iconic summer events on the San Nicandro coast, attracting traditional music enthusiasts and curious visitors alike in search of an authentic Gargano summer.