Sera Passaie... in Forino
Folk music, street art, and Irpinian food and wine in the historic center of Forino
About Sera Passaie
A widespread festival in the heart of Irpinia
Sera Passaie... in Forino is one of the most deeply rooted summer events in the province of Avellino. The name, in the local Irpinian dialect, is an invitation to take a stroll on summer evenings—which is exactly what happens when the "Village of the Seven Hills" closes its historic center to traffic, handing it over for four days to musicians, street artists, artisans, and traditional kitchens. There is no single stage or entry fee: the festival is scattered along the streets, squares, and piazzas, meant to be explored on foot.
Nineteen editions of folk music
Founded in 2008 by the Libertas Forino Cultural Association, the festival has spanned nearly two decades while maintaining its original formula: multiple simultaneous performance spots, free entry, and a strong focus on local bands alongside major names from the Southern Italian folk and world music scene. In 2026, the festival celebrated its 19th edition and shifted from its traditional mid-August slot to early July, becoming "Sera Passaie... July in Forino," held from July 9th to 12th.
The historic center as a stage
The layout of the event mirrors the geography of the ancient village. In recent years, performances have been distributed between Largo Ponte, Spiazzo Laudati, Spiazzo San Francesco, and Piazzetta Caracciolo, while roving artists animate the alleys between these areas. The audience moves freely from one spot to another, encountering tarantella music, cover bands, DJ sets, jugglers, fire shows, and soap bubbles for the little ones.
Open heritage: Palazzo Caracciolo and noble courtyards
One of the hallmarks of Sera Passaie is the extraordinary opening of the town's heritage sites. During the evenings, visitors can explore Palazzo Caracciolo, the courtyards of noble residences, churches, and confraternities, often hosting exhibitions of painting, sculpture, historical photography, and local crafts. It is a simple and effective way to share the history of Forino, a former Caracciolo fiefdom, with an audience that arrives primarily for the music and the food.
Irpinian cuisine: hanging provolone, fried pizza, and Aglianico
The food and wine area is an integral part of the festival, not just a side attraction. Stalls offer traditional Irpinian peasant dishes and authentic street food: arrosticini, provolone impiccato, fried pizzas, stuffed bread, local cured meats, and cheeses, paired with Aglianico wine and craft beers. Starting with the 2026 edition, the festival adopted the "Taste for everyone, no exclusions!" formula, featuring gluten-free versions of various specialties, from fried pizza to stuffed bread.
Not just evenings: trekking, cycling, and charity
Daytime initiatives revolve around the evening program, linking the festival to the landscape of the Forino mountains and the Partenio area: trekking excursions, cycling tours, and charity sports events. In 2026, the final Sunday opened with a friendly bike ride departing at 8:00 AM from the Villa Comunale.
Why visit
- Free admission to all performance areas, with food and drinks available for purchase.
- Four evenings of live music with multiple stages active simultaneously.
- A Campanian historic center open for evening visits, including palaces and churches.
- Authentic Irpinian cuisine at popular prices, with gluten-free options.
- An excellent base for discovering Irpinia and the nearby Valle del Sabato, half an hour from Avellino and less than an hour from Naples.
Sera Passaie — edition 2026
Sera Passaie 2026: the 19th edition
Organized by the Libertas Forino Cultural Association, the 2026 edition featured four consecutive evenings, from Thursday, July 9th, to Sunday, July 12th, transforming Forino's historic center into a space dedicated to conviviality. Live concerts, street artists, art installations, and children's entertainment alternated along the village streets, while artisan exhibitors, painters, and sculptors occupied courtyards and entryways.
The 2026 novelty: taste for everyone
The edition launched the "Taste for everyone, no exclusions!" formula, with gluten-free versions of the festival's signature specialties—from fried pizza to stuffed bread and traditional fried foods—alongside the classic offerings of arrosticini, provolone impiccato, local Irpinian products, Aglianico wine, and craft beers.
Open heritage
Throughout all four days, Palazzo Caracciolo, the courtyards of noble residences, churches, and the historic center's confraternities were open to visitors, featuring exhibitions of crafts, painting, and sculpture, as well as stalls selling local products.
Programme Sera Passaie 2026
Thursday, July 9, 2026
- Rareca Antica — Southern folk music
- Magma
- I Figli di Cibele
- Joe Clemente
Friday, July 10, 2026
- Bakkano Sound
- Across the Beatles — Beatles tribute
- Universe
- DJ set with DJ Marmy and DJ Simone Roberto
Saturday, July 11, 2026
- Ars Nova Napoli — opening the evening
- Luigi & Rosa with saxophonist Francesco Alfano
- Popolo Vascio
- DJ set with DJ Frisetti
Sunday, July 12, 2026
- 8:00 AM — Friendly cycling tour departing from the Villa Comunale in Forino
- Viaggio Popolare
- Three of the Pop
- Contacunti
- Closing with a DJ set by DJ Marmy
For all evenings: street artists and art installations along the streets of the historic center, opening of Palazzo Caracciolo, noble courtyards, churches, and confraternities, exhibitions by artisans, painters, and sculptors, and stalls with local products.
Highlights Sera Passaie 2026
- 19th edition and the first time in the festival's history held in July.
- Ars Nova Napoli and Rareca Antica among the headline acts of the Campanian folk scene.
- Evening opening of Palazzo Caracciolo, noble courtyards, churches, and confraternities.
- "Taste for everyone, no exclusions!" formula with gluten-free options.
- Irpinian street food: arrosticini, provolone impiccato, fried pizzas, Aglianico, and craft beers.
- Sunday cycling tour departing at 8:00 AM from the Villa Comunale.
Prices Sera Passaie 2026
Practical information — Sera Passaie
Location
Historic center of Forino (AV), Campania. Reference: Piazza Municipio 1, 83020 Forino. Performances are distributed between Largo Ponte, Spiazzo Laudati, Spiazzo San Francesco, and Piazzetta Caracciolo.
How to get there
By car: Take the Baiano or Avellino Ovest exit on the A16 Naples-Canosa motorway, then follow the SS7 bis / SP towards Forino; the town is about 12 km from Avellino and 45 km from Naples. During the festival, the historic center is closed to traffic: it is best to leave your car in the peripheral parking lots and continue on foot.
By train: Arrive at Avellino or Naples Centrale station, then take the regional AIR Campania bus lines to Forino.
By plane: Naples-Capodichino Airport, about an hour's drive away.
Hours and admission
Free admission to the event areas. In recent editions, food stalls have opened around 7:30 PM and performances have begun around 9:00 PM. Food and drinks are available for purchase at the stalls.
Contacts
Libertas Forino Cultural Association — email [email protected], phone +39 334 6163125. Updates on the program and schedule are available on the festival's official Facebook page and Instagram profile.
Tips
Wear comfortable shoes: the route is entirely on sloping streets and the village's cobblestones. July evenings can be cool in the hills, so a light sweatshirt is recommended. For those arriving from afar, the most numerous accommodation options are in Avellino and the Monteforte Irpino area.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Sera Passaie
Centro storico di Forino
Piazza Municipio 1, 83020 Forino