Postiglione Carnival

A village festival in the heart of the Alburni

The Postiglione Carnival is the event that transforms the squares and alleys of Postiglione into a grand celebration every winter. Located in the province of Salerno, in Campania, at an altitude of over 600 meters on the slopes of the Alburni Mountains within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, this village of about two thousand inhabitants fills with masks, confetti, and music for two days.

This is not a carnival of massive allegorical floats, but an authentic popular festival built by volunteers and designed primarily for the little ones. The formula is simple and effective: meeting in the square, entertainment, a masked parade through the historic center, and a final snack offered to everyone. It is the way a small community defends a tradition that belongs to everyone, without spectacle or entrance fees.

The 2026 program

The 2026 edition was held over two days, Sunday, February 15 and Tuesday, February 17, according to the program released by the Pro Loco of Postiglione.

• Sunday, February 15, 3:00 PM — Meeting at Piazza Europa with mascots, entertainers, stilt walkers, and music.
• 4:00 PM — Balloon Woman Show, a balloon art performance dedicated to children.
• Following this, a masked parade to Piazza Armando Diaz, in front of the Town Hall, accompanied by street artists, magic tricks, and a fire show.
• Upon arrival, free distribution of drinks and traditional carnival sweets at the Council Chamber, with confetti and party horns for all participants.
• Tuesday, February 17, Shrove Tuesday, 3:30 PM — In the Council Chamber, the children's theatrical performance The Magic of Carnival will be staged, created by the Theater Workshop of the "Spazio ai Giovani" project by the Fili d'Erba Cooperative, with a snack offered at the end.

In case of bad weather, all activities move inside the Municipal Hall: the party never stops, which is a key identity trait of the event.

A child-friendly Carnival

The hallmark of the Postiglione Carnival is its focus on children. There are no competitions between groups or juries: anyone who arrives in costume participates, period. Stilt walkers and entertainers accompany the procession, families follow on foot through the narrow streets of the village, and the route ends in front of the Town Hall, where the snack is distributed for free. The Shrove Tuesday theatrical performance follows the same logic: a youth workshop bringing its own kids to the stage in front of the town.

For those visiting the area at this time of year, it is a rare opportunity to see an inland village of Campania in its most daily and communal dimension, far from the summer tourist flows heading toward the Cilento coast.

Postiglione, a Norman village in the National Park

The town hosting the festival is worth a visit in its own right. Postiglione preserves a Norman castle built around the year 1000, characterized by its towers, a testament to the village's strategic role as a stronghold over the valley. The historic center has a medieval layout: narrow alleys, stone architecture, and religious buildings dating from the 14th to the 18th century. The surrounding municipal territory includes various hamlets scattered between 175 and 640 meters above sea level, in the heart of the Alburni environment.

The Carnival weaves through this very urban fabric: the parade does not travel along grand boulevards but through the town's streets, which gives it an intimate and familiar character.

Who organizes the event

The event is managed by the Pro Loco di Postiglione APS, a volunteer association created to promote and enhance the territory, with the support of the Municipality of Postiglione. The same association enlivens other local calendar events, starting with "Strettule – the paths of Postiglione taste," dedicated to olive oil and typical products, held at other times of the year.

When it takes place

As everywhere in Italy, Carnival is a movable feast: the dates change every year based on Easter. The event is traditionally concentrated on Carnival Sunday and Shrove Tuesday, the final days before the start of Lent. In 2026, the two days were February 15 and 17. Those wishing to participate in the next edition should follow the Pro Loco channels, where the program is published a few weeks in advance.