Mountain Festival

A festival celebrating the Irpinian mountains

In the heart of summer, the village of Nusco dedicates an entire day to its mountains: this is the Mountain Festival, organized by the Pro Loco Nusco – Balcone dell'Irpinia with the patronage of the Municipality of Nusco. It is not a typical food festival, but rather a widespread celebration that fills the historic center and the Villa Nuova, blending excursions, rural traditions, local products, and folk music. The common thread is the enduring bond between the community and the peaks of the Terminio Cervialto Mountain Community that frame the horizon.

Nusco, the balcony of Irpinia

At an altitude of 914 meters, Nusco is one of the highest towns in the Province of Avellino and is aptly known as the «balcony of Irpinia»: from its viewpoint, the gaze sweeps across the valleys and mountains of inland Campania. The village preserves its co-cathedral with a 16th-century facade, the remains of the Lombard castle, and stone alleys leading down to ancient gates, all linked to the figure of Saint Amatus, the territory's first bishop. It is in this setting, defined by staircases and sudden panoramic views, that the festival takes place: the town becomes a continuous path through squares, courtyards, and gardens.

A day from dawn until late at night

The program follows a recognizable structure, designed to appeal to all ages:

• Early morning — bicycle excursion organized by ASD Pedala Libero, starting from the town center with stops at iconic local sites, from Fontigliano to the Goleto Abbey;
• From 9:30 AM to the afternoon — guided tours of the historic center with local guides (booking recommended);
• Mid-morning — the «corn-husking» at Villa Nuova, the festival's most iconic moment, especially for children;
• Lunchtime — opening of food stalls and the local farmers' market;
• Afternoon — roaming folk music through the streets, traditional games for children, preparation of boiled and roasted corn, and book presentations;
• Evening and night — stargazing, folk music concert, and final DJ set.

During the August 21, 2024 edition, for example, the day began at 8:30 AM with the bike ride, followed by guided tours from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and corn-husking at 10:30 AM, leading up to a poetry book presentation by Giorgio Colombo at 6:00 PM, stargazing led by Gianpaolo Faia at 8:00 PM, a concert by the Bottari di Macerata Campania at 9:00 PM, and a closing DJ set by Pio Mangone at 11:30 PM.

Corn-husking

This is the act that gives meaning to the entire event. Peeling corn husks was, until a few decades ago, a collective task that brought entire families together in courtyards at the end of summer: they worked together, told stories, and sang. At the Mountain Festival, that ritual returns as a shared game, with children sitting in a circle at Villa Nuova. In the afternoon, the corn is boiled and roasted to be shared with everyone: rural memory here is not a lecture, but something you can touch and eat.

Local flavors and producers

From early afternoon, the village hosts a market of local farms, an opportunity to meet those who work the land and raise livestock in one of the highest areas of Irpinia. Alongside the exhibitors are food stalls featuring the day's preparations and typical products from the mountain region. The format is that of a classic village feast: you eat outdoors, sitting wherever you find space, while folk music groups wander from street to street.

Folk music and the starry sky

Evening is when the festival shifts gears. The altitude and low light pollution make Nusco a great spot for observing the summer sky: the telescope session, led by an expert, precedes the evening concert, usually featuring Campanian folk music ensembles — drums, accordions, tammorre — and the night ends with a DJ set. It is a deliberate progression: from the oldest traditions to the contemporary party, without interruption.

When it takes place

The Mountain Festival traditionally falls in the second half of August: the last documented editions were held on the 21st of the month. The detailed program is released by the Pro Loco Nusco close to the date, generally through the association's social media channels and the tourism portal of the Province of Avellino. For 2026 — the year the Pro Loco also celebrates its fiftieth anniversary — the date has not yet been announced at the time of this publication.