Ofantino Carnival in San Ferdinando

A carnival born from the Ofanto land

The Ofantino Carnival in San Ferdinando is the carnival celebration that enlivens the streets of San Ferdinando di Puglia every February, a town in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani (the so-called BAT) overlooking the fertile Ofanto Valley. Established in 2024 by the Pro Loco of San Ferdinando di Puglia, it has quickly become one of the most cherished popular festivals on the local calendar, involving schools, families, and associations from across the town.

The four districts

The idea that makes this carnival unique is the division of the town into four districts, each linked to a typical product grown in the Ofanto territory: the Ulivo District (Olive), the Uva District (Grape), the Carciofo District (Artichoke), and the Pesca District (Peach). Each district corresponds to a specific area of the town and spends the preceding months preparing costumes, choreography, and floats, sparking a healthy rivalry that fuels neighborhood enthusiasm.

How the festival unfolds

The carnival is not concentrated on a single day: over the course of several days, each district takes its own parade to the streets, before all converging for the Grand Parade of the Four Districts, the highlight that concludes the event. The procession moves through the town streets amid music, masks, and spectacular choreography, finally reaching Piazza della Costituzione, the heart of the festivities, where the entertainment, music, and awards for the districts continue.

A community celebration

The protagonists of the Ofantino Carnival are primarily the children from kindergartens and preschools, who open the festivities by parading in costume from the Villa Comunale, alongside the adults who bring the district processions to life. The event is designed as a participatory and free celebration, open to all citizens and visitors from neighboring towns in northern Puglia.

San Ferdinando di Puglia and its territory

Located between Cerignola, Trinitapoli, and Barletta, San Ferdinando di Puglia is a young and vibrant agricultural hub, whose economy revolves around grapes, olives, artichokes, and peaches: the very products that give their names to the four carnival districts. Participating in the Ofantino Carnival means discovering the authentic soul of a town in the BAT area, where the masquerade becomes an opportunity to celebrate the identity of an entire community.