Parolise in Borgo

An Irpinian village turned into a stage

Parolise in Borgo is the summer festival that animates the historic center of Parolise, a small town of just over six hundred residents in the province of Avellino, in the heart of Irpinia. For two consecutive evenings, the village streets, alleys, and squares fill with stalls, lights, and music: a simple yet effective way to showcase a village that, due to its size, would otherwise remain off the beaten tourist path in Campania.

The food and wine trail

The heart of the festival is a gastronomic trail that unfolds along the streets of the town center. The stands offer dishes from the Irpinian peasant cuisine, prepared according to recipes passed down through generations: homemade pasta, cured meats, local cheeses, and traditional desserts. Among the offerings featured in past editions:

• grilled meats and arrosticini
• caciocavallo impiccato (hanging cheese)
• montanare (fried pizza dough) and fried meatballs
• homemade desserts and local specialties

Alongside the food, wine takes center stage: Irpinia is a land of great whites and reds, and Parolise is located just a short distance from the towns of the most renowned denominations in the province of Avellino.

Folk music, street performers, and concerts

The format includes roving performances and live concerts spread across the village squares. Street performers, folk music groups, and local bands accompany the public along the trail, with a program designed for all ages. In past editions, the stages set up in Piazza Don Marciano Marino and the space in front of the church have hosted folk groups, Irpinian musical projects, and DJ sets that closed out the evenings.

Recent editions

• 2023 — 5th edition, August 18–19, featuring Moreres Folk Band, Sfessania live Band, and the show «Mille volte meglio brigante».
• 2024 — 6th edition, August 17–18, featuring concerts by Orizzonti Popolari and Lumanera.
• 2025 — 7th edition, August 22–23, dedicated to the theme of «Popular Beliefs».

Organizers

The event is promoted by the Municipality of Parolise in collaboration with the Pro Loco Parolise and the organizational support of Omast Eventi, under the artistic direction of Roberto D'Agnese. The event is included in the calendar of Sistema Irpinia, the tourism portal of the Province of Avellino, which announces its dates and content every year.

Why it's worth the trip

Parolise in Borgo is not a massive festival, and it doesn't aim to be: it is a charming village feast where the connection between visitors and the community remains personal. Those who arrive will find a cozy village at an altitude of about 540 meters, dominated by the Clock Tower, and the chance to discover the cuisine and oral traditions of this part of Irpinia in a single evening. It is an ideal occasion for those staying in Avellino or traveling through inland Campania in August, when every town in the area hosts its own summer event.

When it takes place

The event is traditionally held in the second half of August, over two consecutive evenings, starting in the late afternoon and continuing until night. The dates change from year to year and are announced by the organizers in the preceding weeks, usually through the social media pages of the Pro Loco and the Municipality.