Roots, Art and Flavors
Three evenings of dance, folk music, and Cilento cuisine in the village of the Alburni mountains
About Roots, Art and Flavors
Three evenings in the heart of the Alburni
In Aquara, a small town of just over 1,300 inhabitants perched at an altitude of 500 meters on the southwestern slopes of the Alburni mountains, in the province of Salerno, summer features an event that has quickly become the most awaited of the year. It is called Roots, Art and Flavors and is the festival through which the Pro Loco Aquara APS opens the ancient village to visitors for three consecutive evenings, between the end of July and the beginning of August.
We are inside the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, on the right bank of the middle course of the Calore river: a corner of inland Campania that thrives on oil, wine, and shepherding, and which in summer welcomes back its emigrants and greets tourists traveling from the Cilento coast toward the hinterland.
A journey through the "strèttule" of the ancient village
The heart of the event is not a stage, but the historic center. The organizers set up a route that winds through the strèttule, the narrow alleys of the town: in the reclaimed spaces, scenes of daily life and ancient crafts are reconstructed, with artistic installations, impromptu performances, folk music, and live shows. Visitors are invited to wear traditional clothing, and every evening street artists and itinerant music bring the village to life after sunset.
"Aquara in Dance", the festival that kicks off the event
The first evening is dedicated to dance with the "Aquara in Dance" festival, curated by the A.C. Tersicore association, which reaches its tenth edition in 2026. The stage is Piazza Indipendenza, where local schools perform in a show that weaves together choreographic languages and local identity. It is the signal that the festival has begun: from 7:30 PM, the stands are already open and the town fills up.
The Summer Carnival of Traditions
The final evening is the most representative of the local identity. In the middle of August, Aquara stages its Traditional Carnival, which was inscribed in the Intangible Heritage Inventory of the Campania Region by executive decree no. 450 of August 5, 2024. The procession starts from Piazza Vittorio Veneto, crosses the alleys of the historic center, and arrives in Piazza Indipendenza, where masks, guest groups, and the town's children's carnival parade. It is a seasonal reversal with a precise logic: to show those who have returned for the holidays a ritual that in winter remains the heritage of only a few.
Cilento peasant cuisine
The food stands open every evening at 7:30 PM and are the second pillar of the event. The menu is proudly based on Cilento peasant cuisine: simple and genuine recipes handed down from generation to generation, accompanied by local products — extra virgin olive oil, artisanal cheeses, locally produced cured meats, traditional desserts, and regional wines. After all, Aquara is known as "the town of oil and wine," and the protected area of Cilento is a land of cacioricotta, caciocavallo podolico, white figs, and white artichokes.
A young event, already a symbol of identity
The first edition dates back to 2024, on August 3rd and 4th, envisioned by the Pro Loco president Massimiliano Caruso as "a hug from our community, a journey through time." In 2025, the second edition expanded to three evenings, featuring a twinning between the Traditional Carnival of Aquara and the "Carnival of the Poor" of Olevano sul Tusciano. In 2026, it reaches its third edition, from July 31st to August 2nd, with a now-consolidated structure: dance, concerts, summer carnival, and flavors.
What to see around Aquara
A visit to the village can easily be combined with hiking in the Alburni mountains and the Calore Gorges. In the Aquara calendar, besides "Roots," the patronal feast of San Lucido in July, the novena of San Rocco in August, and the candlelight procession in honor of Madonna del Piano in mid-September remain deeply felt: a sign of a town that, despite its small size, maintains a very rich ritual calendar.
Roots, Art and Flavors — edition 2026
The 2026 edition: the third
The Pro Loco Aquara APS has confirmed the dates for the third edition of Roots, Art and Flavors: Friday, July 31, Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026. The structure is the one tested in the previous two years — one evening of dance, one of concert, and one dedicated to the summer carnival — but the 2026 program adds two novelties: the midnight DJ set after the Saturday concert and, on Sunday, guests from "The 12 Months of the Year" from the Laviano Carnival, in the province of Salerno, alongside the Aquara masks.
Tradition, music and flavors
The event takes place entirely in the historic center of Aquara, between Piazza Indipendenza and Piazza Vittorio Veneto. Every evening, starting from 7:30 PM, the food and wine stands dedicated to Cilento peasant cuisine and Alburni products open, while the village alleys come alive with itinerant music and street artists. Entrance to the evenings is free: you only pay for what you consume at the food stalls.
What to expect
The audience is that of the Cilento village festivals of early August: families, locals who have returned for the holidays, and visitors arriving from the coast. The most crowded evening is Sunday, when the summer carnival procession crosses the entire town before the final concert.
Programme Roots, Art and Flavors 2026
Friday, July 31, 2026
- 7:30 PM — Opening of food stands; itinerant music and street artists in the historic center
- 8:30 PM, Piazza Indipendenza — 10th "Aquara in Dance" Festival, curated by A.C. Tersicore
Saturday, August 1, 2026
- 7:30 PM — Opening of food stands; itinerant music and street artists
- 9:30 PM — Concert by Taranta Nobes
- 12:00 AM — DJ set
Sunday, August 2, 2026 — Summer Carnival of Traditions
- 7:00 PM — Procession starts from Piazza Vittorio Veneto
- Parade along the strèttule of the historic center and arrival in Piazza Indipendenza
- Performance of "The 12 Months of the Year", guests from the Laviano Carnival
- Performance by the Aquara children's carnival
- 7:30 PM — Opening of food stands
- 9:30 PM — Concert by Valcalore
Highlights Roots, Art and Flavors 2026
- 10th "Aquara in Dance" Festival (A.C. Tersicore) in Piazza Indipendenza, Friday, July 31 at 8:30 PM
- Concert by Taranta Nobes Saturday, August 1 at 9:30 PM, with midnight DJ set
- Summer Carnival of Traditions Sunday, August 2, with the procession from Piazza Vittorio Veneto at 7:00 PM
- Guests from "The 12 Months of the Year" from the Laviano Carnival
- Concert by Valcalore to close, Sunday, August 2 at 9:30 PM
- Cilento peasant cuisine stands open every evening from 7:30 PM
- Itinerant music and street artists in the alleys of the ancient village
Prices Roots, Art and Flavors 2026
Practical information — Roots, Art and Flavors
How to get there
Aquara is easily reached only by car: the town is located at about 500 meters above sea level on the slopes of the Alburni mountains, in the hinterland of the province of Salerno, and is accessed via provincial roads that climb from the Calore valley towards Roccadaspide. From Paestum and the Cilento coast, the transfer takes just under an hour. Evening public transport is very limited: it is best to use your own vehicle.
Parking and access
The evenings take place in the historic center, between Piazza Vittorio Veneto and Piazza Indipendenza. The village streets are narrow and steep: it is better to leave the car on the outskirts of the town and continue on foot with comfortable shoes.
Hours and costs
The food stands open every evening at 7:30 PM; the main shows begin between 8:30 PM and 9:30 PM. The sources consulted do not indicate any entrance fee: the event takes place in public spaces with free access, and you only pay for what you consume at the food stalls.
Where to stay
Accommodation options in Aquara are limited to a few non-hotel establishments. In high season, it is advisable to look for farmhouses and B&Bs in the nearby towns of the Calore valley and the Alburni, or to stay in the Capaccio-Paestum area.
Tips
August evenings at this altitude are cooler than on the coast: a light sweatshirt is useful. Those who want to get into the spirit of the festival can wear a traditional costume, as suggested by the organizers.
Contacts
Pro Loco Aquara APS — [email protected], website prolocoaquara.it, Facebook page "Pro Loco Aquara".
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Where does it take place — Roots, Art and Flavors
Centro storico di Aquara (Piazza Indipendenza, Piazza Vittorio Veneto)
Centro storico, Piazza Indipendenza, 84020 Aquara