Saint Anthony of Padua Festival

An Antonian devotion in the heart of Irpinia

The Saint Anthony of Padua Festival is one of the most cherished events in the religious calendar of Flumeri, a village of just over a thousand residents perched on a hill in the Ufita Valley, in the province of Avellino, deep within the Campania region. Here, the June 13th celebration is more than just a date on the liturgical calendar: it is a moment when the town, joined by emigrants returning for the occasion, unites around the miracle-working Saint, invoked as the protector of families, travelers, and animals.

The Flumeri territory belongs to the Diocese of Ariano Irpino-Lacedonia and maintains a vibrant tradition of local festivals: from the famous Tirata del Giglio (the pulling of the wheat lily) dedicated to the patron saint, San Rocco, in mid-August, to the gastronomic festivals of late summer. The Antonian festival in June effectively kicks off this long season of community gatherings.

The 'tredicina' and the religious program

The spiritual heart of the festival is the tredicina in honor of Saint Anthony, a thirteen-day cycle of prayer that leads the community toward the solemnity starting June 1st. Every evening, the parish church hosts confessions, the Holy Rosary, and Holy Mass in a crescendo that involves families, confraternities, and parish groups.

On June 13th, the day begins early with the Holy Rosary, followed by Holy Mass and the blessing of the bread, the most iconic gesture of Antonian devotion: the blessed loaves are distributed to the faithful and kept in homes as a symbol of protection and sharing. In the late afternoon, the community returns to the church for the Rosary and the solemn Eucharistic Celebration, followed by a procession carrying the statue of the Saint through the town center.

• Tredicina — thirteen days of prayer from June 1st to 13th
• Blessing and distribution of bread on the morning of June 13th
• Evening procession accompanied by a brass band
• Fireworks at the end of the procession
• Side events related to parish life, such as the 'Festa delle Verginelle' and Confirmations

The presence of the band is an essential element: the symphonic marches played along the processional route are a true part of the intangible heritage of Southern Italian festivals, and in Flumeri, they are entrusted each year to bands invited from other towns in Campania.

The secular festival in Piazza San Rocco

Once the religious ceremonies conclude, the festival shifts gears and moves to Piazza San Rocco, the town's open-air living room. Here, typically starting at 9:00 PM, the secular program takes center stage: a platform, a lighting system, and a free evening alternating between folk music, reinterpretations of Neapolitan songs, and cabaret shows. In recent years, the stage has hosted folk singer-songwriters, town orchestras, and comedians well-known to the Campanian public, following a proven formula that combines concerts and laughter.

Surrounding the square are stalls selling sweets, nougat, and toys typical of Irpinian patronal festivals, while illuminations create glowing arches along the center's streets. The atmosphere is authentically that of a village festival: participatory, intergenerational, and completely free.

Why it's worth visiting

Those who arrive in Flumeri for June 13th will find a festival that is genuine rather than touristy, where the devotional and the convivial coexist naturally. It is also an opportunity to discover an off-the-beaten-path corner of Campania: the agricultural landscape of the Baronia and Ufita Valley, the durum wheat that has inspired ephemeral architecture like the 'Giglio', and a rustic cuisine made of handmade fresh pasta—such as 'cicatielli' and 'mugniatielli'—which returns during the summer festivals of the Municipality of Flumeri.

The festival is organized by the Santa Maria Assunta and San Nicola di Bari Parish together with the festival committee, with the support of the local community.