San Rocco Patronal Festival

A mid-August festival in the heart of the Baronia

The cult of San Rocco, the pilgrim from Montpellier invoked for centuries as a protector against epidemics and calamities, is one of the most widespread in Southern Italy and finds one of its most heartfelt expressions in Scampitella. The feast falls on August 16th, and the celebrations span the Ferragosto period, when this small town in the Province of Avellino, in Campania, welcomes back vacationers and emigrants, filling its squares like at no other time of the year.

Scampitella, a village on the ridge

With just under a thousand inhabitants and an altitude of 782 meters, set on a ridge separating the Calore valley from the Ufita valley, Scampitella is a border town in the Baronia region, just a few kilometers from Puglia. It became an independent municipality only in 1948 after separating from Trevico. The town is clustered around the church of Santa Maria della Consolazione in Piazza Libertà, rebuilt after the earthquake of July 23, 1930, which destroyed the previous building along with an organ, a holy water stoup, and the baptismal font. Just outside the center lie the rural hamlet of Guardiola, with its stone architecture, and the archaeological site of Contra, where Roman-era remains and characteristic grain pits have been unearthed.

The religious aspect

The devotional part of the festival follows the traditional pattern of Irpinian patronal feasts, marked by parish rituals:

• liturgical celebrations and solemn masses in the parish church;
• the procession of the statue of San Rocco through the streets of the village, accompanied by a brass band and confraternities;
• moments of prayer and reflection for the entire community.

The passage of the statue, depicting the Saint in his pilgrim's attire showing the wound on his leg with his faithful dog by his side, is the moment when the whole village gathers: decorated balconies, faithful following on foot, and the band playing symphonic marches from the popular Southern repertoire.

The secular program

The religious events are always accompanied by a secular program that enlivens the evenings: street illuminations, live music and concerts in the square, entertainment for families and children, and craft stalls. The grand finale is the fireworks display, which in the tradition of Southern patronal festivals is much more than just a sideshow: it is the moment everyone waits for, discussed and compared from year to year.

Dining: the flavors of Alta Irpinia

The food stalls showcase a peasant cuisine that has remained vibrant here. Among the local products of the Scampitella area and the Baronia, you will find Caciocavallo Silano cheese, Irpinia - Colline dell'Ufita extra virgin olive oil, cereals grown on the plateaus, homemade pasta, grilled meats, and traditional sweets like semolina susamielli. The town is also known for its festival dedicated to soffritto, another summer event on the local calendar.

Other festivals in the Scampitella calendar

San Rocco is not the only event of the year. The official patron saint of the town is Saint Michael the Archangel, celebrated on May 9th, while the first Sunday of August is dedicated to the Madonna della Consolazione, the most important Marian celebration in the village. In winter, the Scampitella Carnival returns, followed by the Saint Joseph bonfire in March.

2026 Edition: what we know

As of the writing of this guide, the detailed program for the 2026 celebrations has not yet been published, and dates have not been confirmed by official channels. The feast of San Rocco remains fixed on August 16th, and festivities traditionally take place during the Ferragosto period, but for times, specific events, and guest names, it is best to check directly with the Municipality of Scampitella or the festival committee's social media pages in the weeks leading up to the event.