'O Fuoc ra Tammorr

The fire that warms the winter in Acquarola

'O Fuoc ra Tammorr is a folk festival that, at the end of January, transforms the hamlet of Acquarola in the municipality of Mercato San Severino (Salerno province, Campania) into a vibrant open-air community space. The name says it all: 'o fuoc, the fire of the fucaroni (traditional bonfires) lit in the village streets, and 'a tammorr, the frame drum that has accompanied the songs and dances of Campanian tradition for centuries.

The concept is ancient and simple: gathering around the flames in the heart of winter. Here, fire is a symbol of transformation, purification, and renewal, as well as passion, energy, and love—an element capable of destroying while simultaneously regenerating, illuminating, uniting, and warming. Families, young people, and visitors from neighboring towns gather around the braziers in Largo Cristone for an evening that is both a collective ritual and a festive occasion.

A young event with a strong identity

The first edition took place on January 26, 2024, in Via Largo Cristone, in the heart of Acquarola. In a very short time, the event has become one of the most anticipated moments of the winter in the San Severino area: the second edition, in January 2025, expanded to two evenings, while the third returned to the format of one big night on January 31, 2026. Growing attendance led the organizers to involve health and safety services, with the collaboration of Emergenza Pubblica Irno and the Italian Red Cross.

Tammorre, folk music, and dance

The musical heart of the festival is the folk music of the South: tammurriate, Campanian and Lucanian rhythms, and folk sounds played live along the village streets. Previous editions have featured regional folk groups such as Kalìmma, who performed in both 2025 and 2026 with a repertoire of Lucanian and Campanian rhythms, and Scetavajasse, a Neapolitan folk ensemble that animated the first night of 2025 with a musical parade through the alleys. The audience is never just a spectator: dancing around the bonfire is an integral part of the evening.

The flavors of the night

Alongside the fire and music, the festival showcases Campanian folk gastronomy in a street food format, with stalls and stations distributed along the route. Offerings from past editions have included:

• caciocavallo impiccato (hanged cheese), melted over the embers and served on bread;
• bruschetta and toasted bread with soppressata and local cured meats;
• roasted chestnuts and red wine;
• grilled skewers and arrosticini;
• broccoli and sausage sandwiches, calzoni, and fried pizza;
• mixed fried foods, crêpes, zeppole, and traditional desserts.

It is the cuisine of the peasant winter in the Irno Valley, designed to be eaten standing up, outdoors, with hands close to the fire.

Acquarola, at the foot of Monte Elia

Acquarola is one of the historic villages of Mercato San Severino, nestled at the foot of Monte Elia and the Parco dei Diecimari, the green area that dominates the Irno Valley between the provinces of Salerno and Avellino. The clustered houses, squares, and narrow alleys provide the natural backdrop for the festival: the flames of the bonfires illuminate the facades, and the sound of the tammorre bounces off the stone walls. It is a setting that explains why the event immediately found favor with the locals: here, the festival is not a staged production, but the village itself coming to life.

Organizers

'O Fuoc ra Tammorr is promoted by the Associazione Marcellino Junior of Acquarola in collaboration with AQB_EVENTS, with the patronage of the Municipality of Mercato San Severino and the operational support of Emergenza Pubblica Irno and the Italian Red Cross. Information on dates, times, and the program is shared primarily through the association's social media channels, which remain the most up-to-date reference for those wishing to attend.