Scuola in Festa

A school that becomes a town square

For three days, spanning the last weekend of May, the courtyard and classrooms of the "Cinquegrana" complex in Sant'Arpino, in the province of Caserta, cease to be just a school building and become the heart of local life. Scuola in Festa was born from this very idea: to open the gates of the "Rocco - cav. Cinquegrana" Comprehensive Institute to the neighborhood and the entire municipality, putting children, students, and their families at the center. The event is conceived and organized by the "V. Rocco" Musical and Cultural Association together with the students and parents of the "Cinquegrana", "Rocco", "De Amicis", and "Rodari" school sites, under the guidance of headmistress Maria Debora Belardo.

Sport, music, and art in a single program

The schedule is intentionally multidisciplinary, ensuring every student can find their own space. The days open with the Atellane Olympics, an internal tournament where school sites compete in four disciplines: table tennis, foosball, volleyball, and five-a-side football. In the afternoon, the stage is taken over by performances: children's choirs, dance and ballet recitals, theater performed by students, flag-wavers, creative workshops, and exhibitions set up throughout the school. In the evening, the atmosphere becomes more convivial, with live concerts and dance music keeping the village alive until late.

The thread of solidarity

Scuola in Festa is not just a showcase of talent. Since its first editions, the event has had a clear goal: to raise funds for the creation of sensory rooms for "special" children—environments designed to facilitate learning, communication, and interaction for those with particular educational needs. On Sunday evening, the charity auction and lottery draw close the event, turning public participation into concrete resources for the school.

An event rooted in the Agro Atellano

Sant'Arpino belongs to the Agro Atellano, the territory named after the ancient Oscan city of Atella, cradle of the fabulae atellanae and now shared between the provinces of Caserta and Naples. It is no coincidence that the festival's sports tournament is called the "Atellane Olympics": the reference to local identity is explicit and runs through the entire event, from the "Festival of Peoples" dedicated to cultural exchange to institutional moments with the Student Parliament. In an area of Campania often portrayed only for its challenges, Scuola in Festa offers the flip side of the coin: an educating community that steps up, with hundreds of volunteers including parents, teachers, and students.

Who should attend

• Families with children: art workshops, children's shows, and games occupy most of the afternoon.
• Music lovers: choirs, band concerts, acoustic groups, and evening sets take turns on the main stage.
• Alumni: every edition includes an awards ceremony for those who have distinguished themselves through merit and talent.
• Local culture enthusiasts: the festival is an excellent opportunity to discover the associative life of the Agro Atellano.

When to go

The event traditionally takes place over a long weekend between late May and early June, from Friday to Sunday. The detailed program is published by the institute and promoted by local press in the weeks prior: it is worth checking, as the times for sports finals and evening shows change from year to year.