Saint Paschal Baylon Festival

A community festival in the heart of Irpinia

Every year, at the beginning of July, Mirabella Eclano dedicates two days to Saint Paschal Baylon, the Franciscan saint of the Eucharist. Staying true to the traditions of Irpinian towns, the festival combines a religious program with a civil program: holy masses, the recitation of the rosary, and a solemn procession on one hand; musical performances, brass bands, illuminations, and local gastronomy on the other. It is one of those festivals where the entire town comes together, with families returning from neighboring municipalities just for the occasion.

Saint Paschal Baylon, the saint of the Eucharist

A 16th-century Spanish Franciscan friar, Paschal Baylon is venerated throughout Southern Italy as the protector of Eucharistic congresses and the patron of numerous confraternities. In Mirabella Eclano, his devotion is tied to the parish community of Santa Maria Maggiore, which, together with the Festival Committee, oversees the organization of the festivities each year, covering both the liturgical and civil aspects.

The religious program

Celebrations begin with a triduum of preparation, featuring the recitation of the rosary and holy masses in the days leading up to the festival. On Sunday, the day's rhythm is marked by morning masses, the rosary, and the late afternoon Eucharistic celebration, leading up to the most anticipated moment: the solemn procession with the statue of the saint through the streets of the town center, accompanied by the band and the participation of the faithful.

Shows, bands, and illuminations

As evening falls, the town transforms and the festivities move to the main square. The civil program features, from one edition to the next:

• concerts and musical shows with artists from the Campania region;
• performances by brass bands, a hallmark of Southern patronal festivals;
• artistic illuminations along the processional route;
• food stalls featuring typical Irpinian products;
• dance evenings and DJ sets until late at night.

Solidarity and creative workshops

Alongside the entertainment, there is a focus on solidarity, which has become an integral part of the festival in Mirabella Eclano: a charity market and an exhibition of crafts made throughout the year by the parish creative workshop. The proceeds, along with those from the traditional charity lottery drawn at the end of the procession, are donated to support the community's needs.

Mirabella Eclano, between Aeclanum and the Straw Chariot

The municipality of Mirabella Eclano, in the province of Avellino (Campania), is one of the most historically rich centers in Irpinia: it is home to the Archaeological Park of Aeclanum, a Samnite and later Roman city along the Via Appia. However, the town is best known for the Tirata del Carro (The Pulling of the Chariot), a hand-woven straw obelisk about twenty-five meters high, pulled by pairs of oxen, which every September renews one of the strongest identity-defining traditions in all of Irpinia. The Saint Paschal Baylon Festival, being more intimate and popular, serves as the summer chapter of this same calendar of traditions.

When it takes place

The event traditionally falls at the beginning of July, on a weekend between Saturday and Sunday: in 2025, the festival took place on July 5th and 6th. The dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially released, so it is advisable to follow the parish and municipal channels for updates.