Patronal Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua

A patronal feast in the heart of the Vesuvius area

The Patronal Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua is the most anticipated event of the year in Poggiomarino, a town in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, located in the eastern Vesuvius area near the Sarno Valley. Every year, around June 13th—the liturgical feast day of the Saint of Padua—the town pauses its daily routine for several days of festivities that weave together popular devotion, tradition, and entertainment.

Saint Anthony is venerated here as the protector of the poor, the sick, and children: a devotion that spans generations and is reflected in the choral participation of the community, from long-standing local families to those who return specifically for these days.

The religious program

The spiritual heart of the feast remains the procession on June 13th, when the statue of the Saint travels through the main streets of the center, accompanied by a marching band, the faithful, and liturgical chants. The patronal day is marked by solemn masses in the church dedicated to the patron and traditional rites linked to the Antonian cult.

• Masses and solemn celebrations throughout the patronal day
• Evening procession through the streets of Poggiomarino with a marching band
• Moments of prayer and spiritual initiatives organized by the parish community

The civil program in Piazza De Marinis

Running alongside the religious calendar is the civil program, which takes center stage in Piazza De Marinis, the town's main square. Here, concerts, comedy shows, performances by local dance schools, and free evening events designed for all ages follow one another. Recent editions have hosted popular names from the Neapolitan scene, from Gianni Fiorellino to Sal Da Vinci, as well as evenings dedicated to cabaret and dance music.

The festivities are rounded off by the funfair set up for the occasion, shows for children, and the traditional fireworks that close the most important evenings.

The 2026 edition

The 2026 edition of the festival took place in June as scheduled. On June 12, 2026, at 9:00 PM, Piazza De Marinis hosted a show by the comedy duo Sex and Sud, featuring Luisa Esposito and Floriana De Martino, in a free evening filled with laughter, irony, and audience engagement; the artistic direction of the entertainment program was entrusted to Domenico Pesce. To facilitate the festivities, the Municipality of Poggiomarino issued an ordinance temporarily modifying traffic in the streets affected by the events.

Who organizes the feast

The organization is managed by the Saint Anthony Feast Committee of Poggiomarino, which works in close coordination with the parish community led by Father Aldo D'Andria and the administration of the Municipality of Poggiomarino. The committee handles fundraising, the installation of illuminations, and the creation of the civil program, while the municipal authority manages permits, security, and traffic.

What to see in Poggiomarino

Visitors arriving for the feast can combine their visit with the Longola Archaeological and Naturalistic Park, a protohistoric stilt-house settlement unearthed in the municipal territory, which stands as one of the most interesting pieces of evidence of prehistoric Campania. Poggiomarino is also a convenient base for reaching Pompeii, the Vesuvius National Park, and the Sorrento Coast.

The atmosphere

First-time visitors will find all the classic elements of a Southern Italian patronal feast: illuminations lighting up the streets, stalls selling nougat and peanuts, children on the rides, the band accompanying the Saint, and the square packed until late at night. This is not an event built for tourism: it is a community telling its own story, and that is exactly why it is worth experiencing.