Paupisi Carnival

A local, community-driven Carnival

The Paupisi Carnival is the signature celebration of Paupisi, a village of just over 1,400 residents in the Province of Benevento, Campania. You won't find massive floats or paid grandstands here; this is a traditional Sannio-style Carnival, where children arrive in costume accompanied by their parents, music blares from speakers set up that very morning, and the scent of fried dough greets you at the edge of town. It is a festival built by volunteers, and it shows.

Two events, two squares

The most recent edition was structured over two distinct days. The first, on a Sunday afternoon, took place in Largo G. De Marco and was dedicated primarily to children and families. The second, held during the days leading up to Shrove Tuesday, moved to Piazza don Tommaso Boscaino with a DJ set that transformed the square into an open-air dance floor for all ages. Spreading the festivities across two dates and two locations allows the entire village to get involved without packing everything into a single afternoon.

What to expect in the square

• Costume gathering: the opening event, featuring an informal parade of homemade disguises
• Puppet shows and magic acts, with plenty of comedy
• Karaoke and group dancing for all ages
• Interactive activities for children, featuring Disney character mascots
• Group games for adults, often the most entertaining part of the day
• Best costume award to close out the festivities

Food stalls and Carnival sweets

As with any self-respecting Sannio festival, the food is no minor detail. The Pro Loco food stall offers local specialties—including padellaccia and montanara (both sweet and savory)—alongside traditional Carnival sweets, the fried delicacies made only during this time of year. It is also how the association self-funds the event: entry to the square is free, and you only pay for what you eat.

The Carnival of Friendship: four towns united

The Paupisi Carnival has a history intertwined with its neighboring towns. For several years, the village was a stop on the Carnival of Friendship circuit, which united Solopaca, Torrecuso, Paupisi, and Ponte in a single calendar of events, with floats, costumed parades, and games moving from town to town until Shrove Tuesday. Born from the collaboration between four Pro Loco associations and three Youth Forums, the circuit reached its fifth edition in 2023, following a pandemic-induced hiatus. That experience of creating "cultural exchange bridges" between neighboring communities remains the foundation of today's Paupisi Carnival, which preserves its spirit: having fun together, without local rivalries.

Paupisi and the Calore Valley

Paupisi is located on the slopes of Camposauro, in the hilly belt descending toward the Calore Valley, an area known primarily for its viticulture—we are just a few kilometers from Torrecuso and Solopaca, two names that need no introduction for lovers of Aglianico and Falanghina wines. Visitors arriving for the Carnival will find the perfect excuse to discover a corner of inland Campania far from mass tourism, characterized by small villages, wineries, and scenic roads.

Who organizes it

The event is promoted by the Pro Loco Paupisi APS, with the patronage of the Municipality of Paupisi and the provincial UNPLI of Benevento. According to the organizers, the goal is to strengthen the sense of community by offering moments of lightheartedness that involve families, children, and the town's youth: a Carnival that is less about the spectacle and more about the fact that everyone, in some way, participates.