San Vincenzo Ferreri Festival

A village festival in the Majella National Park

The San Vincenzo Ferreri Festival is the patronal feast of Santa Croce, a small village within the municipality of Caramanico Terme, in the province of Pescara, Abruzzo. Nestled on the slopes of the Majella, inside the National Park of the same name, Santa Croce preserves the intimate and authentic atmosphere of Abruzzo mountain villages, where the feast of the patron saint remains one of the most cherished events of the year.

Faith and popular devotion

The religious heart of the festival is managed by the Parish of Santa Maria Maggiore: the celebration of Holy Mass with the exposition of the Saint and, above all, the solemn procession through the streets of the village, accompanied by a brass band, represent the moments of greatest community participation. San Vincenzo Ferreri, a Dominican friar and great preacher of the 14th-15th century, is venerated as a protector, and his feast draws many emigrants and families originally from Santa Croce back to the village for the occasion.

The secular program and conviviality

Alongside the religious dimension, the festival is enlivened by a vibrant secular program organized by the APS Santa Cruz M.G. association together with the local community. Recurring highlights include:

• the opening of food stalls featuring traditional Abruzzo dishes;
• the briscola tournament, a classic card game essential to village festivals;
• the tiro al gallo, a traditional local folklore game;
• performances by dance orchestras and musical evenings with DJ sets and tribute bands;
• the traditional Ballo della Pupa, a famous Abruzzo folk dance featuring a pyrotechnic puppet;
• the lottery draw and the fireworks display that concludes the festivities.

An opportunity to discover Caramanico Terme

Every summer, the Santa Croce festival is part of the broader Caramanico d'Estate program promoted by the Municipality of Caramanico Terme, one of Italy's most beautiful spa towns, renowned for its sulfurous waters and the spectacular Valle dell'Orfento. Attending the San Vincenzo Ferreri Festival means experiencing the genuine hospitality of a small mountain community while discovering one of the most evocative corners of the Majella National Park.