Pellezzano Carnival
Floats, masks, and folk traditions in the Irno Valley
About Pellezzano Carnival
A village carnival in the heart of the Irno Valley
The Pellezzano Carnival is the most anticipated winter event in Pellezzano, a small town in the province of Salerno overlooking the Irno Valley in Campania. For about ten days, between late January and Shrove Tuesday, the squares of the main town and its hamlets fill with confetti, music, and masks. It is a grassroots celebration where the hard work of local associations matters more than any star-studded lineup.
The event is organized by the Municipality of Pellezzano in collaboration with the Pro Loco, the Youth Forum, and numerous local associations. The result is a widespread carnival that is not confined to a single location but spans all the communities that make up Pellezzano.
Allegorical floats, the pride of local associations
The heart of the festival lies in the allegorical floats, handcrafted in the preceding months by local groups. Among the most active are the associations "Insieme Per" and "I Ragazzi di Capriglia", which present their creations in the square every year before the actual parade. It is a collective effort involving adults and children, from structural design and papier-mâché to the choreography that accompanies the float along the route.
Accompanying the floats are masked groups, dance schools, and local musical ensembles: the Balletto Arte Nikè is a recurring presence in the parades, which transform the streets into a long, open-air stage.
A route covering the main town, Coperchia, and Capriglia
The geography of the Pellezzano Carnival mirrors that of the municipality. Piazza Di Vittorio, in the main town of Pellezzano, traditionally hosts the opening evening with the presentation of the floats. The hamlet of Coperchia is the nerve center of the Sunday parade, which concludes in Piazza Giovanni Paolo II, and also houses the Teatro Galdi and the multipurpose center used for indoor events. The grand finale takes place in Capriglia, in Piazza Pastore, where the floats are displayed one last time on Shrove Tuesday.
Beyond parades: exhibitions, contests, and conviviality
Alongside the floats, the program includes events designed to bring different generations together. The Youth Forum curates a photo exhibition dedicated to the memory of the local carnival, open throughout the event; theater associations organize a best mask contest for children; and there is no shortage of social gatherings, with tastings of traditional products and masked parties.
- Allegorical float parades between the main town and the hamlets
- Masked groups and local dance schools
- Photo exhibition on the carnival of yesterday and today
- Children's contest dedicated to masks
- Representation of the death of Carnival and final tastings
A rediscovered tradition
After a few years of suspension, the carnival parades returned to Pellezzano in the 2020s, bringing back to the streets a tradition that residents recount through photographs and family memories. It is no coincidence that the exhibition set up at the Teatro Galdi is titled "Walking through time: Carnival in Pellezzano yesterday and today": here, the carnival is a tool for collective identity as well as a celebration.
The context: Pellezzano and the Irno Valley
Pellezzano is located just a few kilometers from Salerno, along the valley carved by the Irno river that connects the provincial capital to the Avellino area. It is a territory of ancient agricultural communities that have gradually become populous residential centers, yet they have preserved their patronal feasts, food festivals, and seasonal rites. The carnival, along with that of nearby Baronissi, is today one of the events that best captures this associative vitality: two distinct events, often scheduled on the same days, making the Irno Valley one of the most vibrant carnival hubs in the province of Salerno.
Visitors from outside will find a family-friendly, free celebration where it is easy to connect with the local community: parades are followed on foot along the route, and meeting points are the town squares, not paid enclosures.
Pellezzano Carnival — edition 2026
Pellezzano Carnival 2026
From February 6th to 17th, 2026, Pellezzano hosted its carnival festival, promoted by the Municipality in collaboration with the Pro Loco, the Youth Forum, and local associations. The calendar alternated between indoor events and square gatherings, distributed between the main town and the hamlets of Coperchia and Capriglia.
The opening was marked by the photo exhibition "Walking through time: Carnival in Pellezzano yesterday and today", inaugurated at the Teatro Galdi in Coperchia and open until Shrove Tuesday: a journey through archival images that also involved the town's primary school classes.
The floats and associations
The protagonists of the edition were the associations "Insieme Per" and "I Ragazzi di Capriglia", creators of the allegorical floats presented to the public in Piazza Di Vittorio. The Sunday parade, accompanied by the Balletto Arte Nikè, was awaited along the route from Via Livatino to Piazza Giovanni Paolo II in Coperchia.
Bad weather on February 8th
On Sunday, February 8th, adverse weather conditions forced the mayors of the Irno Valley to stop the parades: both the masked walk in Pellezzano and Coperchia and the Gran Carnevale di Baronissi event were canceled to ensure the safety of participants. The rest of the program continued in the following days.
The grand finale in Capriglia
The closing took place on Tuesday, February 17th, in Piazza Pastore in Capriglia, with the display of the floats, the representation of the death of Carnival organized by the Madre Maria Pia Notari association, and a meatball tasting offered to those present.
Programme Pellezzano Carnival 2026
Friday, February 6th
- 7:30 PM - Teatro Galdi, Coperchia: Inauguration of the exhibition "Walking through time: Carnival in Pellezzano yesterday and today", curated by the Youth Forum. Open on multiple dates until Shrove Tuesday.
Saturday, February 7th
- 6:00 PM - Piazza Di Vittorio, Pellezzano: "Welcome Carnival", presentation of the allegorical floats created by the "Insieme Per" and "I Ragazzi di Capriglia" associations.
Sunday, February 8th
- 3:30 PM - "Masked Walk": Parade of floats accompanied by the Balletto Arte Nikè, starting from Via Livatino and arriving at Piazza Giovanni Paolo II in Coperchia. Event canceled due to bad weather by decision of the Irno Valley mayors.
Friday, February 13th
- 5:30 PM - "Giovani + Ilaria e Nicholas" multipurpose center, Coperchia: "The Little Masks", contest dedicated to the most beautiful mask, curated by the "Teatro e' Vita" association.
Monday, February 16th
- 8:30 PM - "Lino Trezza" municipal library, Pellezzano: "Waiting for Carnival", masked dinner show organized by the Youth Forum.
Tuesday, February 17th (Shrove Tuesday)
- From 10:30 AM - Piazza Pastore, Capriglia: "Grand Carnival Finale" with the display of allegorical floats, representation of the death of Carnival by the Madre Maria Pia Notari association, and meatball tasting.
Highlights Pellezzano Carnival 2026
- Twelve days of celebration from February 6th to 17th, 2026, between Pellezzano, Coperchia, and Capriglia
- Allegorical floats self-built by the "Insieme Per" and "I Ragazzi di Capriglia" associations
- Photo exhibition "Walking through time" at the Teatro Galdi in Coperchia
- "The Little Masks", the best mask contest for children
- Masked dinner show "Waiting for Carnival" at the "Lino Trezza" Library
- Shrove Tuesday grand finale in Piazza Pastore in Capriglia with the death of Carnival and meatball tasting
Prices Pellezzano Carnival 2026
Practical information — Pellezzano Carnival
How to get there
Pellezzano is located about 8 km from Salerno. By car, take the A2 del Mediterraneo motorway at the Salerno Fratte exit and continue along the Irno Valley; the Salerno-Avellino junction serves the area with the Fratte exit. By train, the reference station is Salerno, connected to Naples and the Tyrrhenian line, from where you can continue by local and regional buses.
Public transport
The town is served by Busitalia Campania lines 10, 22, and 23, which connect Salerno with Baronissi and the hamlets of Pellezzano. On parade days, routes undergo temporary deviations due to the closure of the SP27 in Coperchia: it is advisable to check the notices published by the carrier.
Parking and access
During the parades, the streets involved in the route remain closed to traffic for several hours. It is advisable to leave your car in parking areas outside the center and reach the squares on foot.
Costs
Events in the square and float parades are free to attend.
Contacts
Municipality of Pellezzano, Piazza Municipio 1 - 84080 Pellezzano (SA), switchboard +39 089 568717. Information and updated program on the official website and the Youth Forum channels.
Tips
February in the Irno Valley can be rainy, and parades are canceled in case of bad weather for safety reasons: check the Municipality's notices on the day itself. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for walking along the route.
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Where does it take place — Pellezzano Carnival
Piazza Di Vittorio, Coperchia e Capriglia
Piazza Giuseppe Di Vittorio, 84080 Pellezzano