St. John's Night

St. John's Night on the Casal Velino seafront

Every June 23rd, on the eve of the feast of St. John the Baptist, the Casal Velino Marina seafront lights up for one of the most evocative evenings of the Cilento summer. The event, promoted by the Cilento Host association in collaboration with the Municipality of Casal Velino and the Pro Loco, transforms the waterfront into a sprawling stage where markets, theater, folk dances, and rituals passed down through generations coexist. The formula is simple and effective: no monumental stage, but a path to be experienced step by step, with the sea just a few meters away.

The most anticipated moment: lanterns on the sea

The heart of the evening is the lantern ceremony. After writing their wish on a note, participants entrust their lantern to the water and watch it drift away, while the coastline becomes dotted with small lights. It is a collective gesture with strong symbolic weight—hope, renewal, memory of those who are no longer with us—accompanied by the traditional phrase: may the light of the sea carry our wishes far away. In the 2025 edition, the ceremony used biodegradable floating lanterns, respecting the marine ecosystem of Cilento.

A journey through theater, rituals, and markets

• Traditional Market: handicrafts, local products, and small shops along the waterfront;
• Theatrical trail inspired by the rituals of St. John's Night, with roving storytelling;
• Tree of Wishes: everyone leaves a written thought among the branches;
• Dances and shows of Cilento folk tradition;
• Dew Ritual, with the distribution of St. John's water prepared with herbs and flowers;
• Ritual of the Comari, the ancient pact of friendship sealed with the exchange of a red ribbon.

Why June 23rd

In the rural culture of Southern Italy, the night between June 23rd and 24th is the most significant of the year: close to the summer solstice, it was considered the time when herbs reach their peak properties and when water, dew, and fire take on a purifying value. In Cilento, this tradition has remained alive in daily gestures—gathering herbs, making nocino, the bond between 'comari'—and the Casal Velino festival brings it back to the public square, restoring its communal dimension, open to visitors as well.

Casal Velino Marina, the setting

Casal Velino is a town in the Province of Salerno, in Campania, in the heart of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. Its seaside district, overlooking the Gulf of Velia, is known for its beach and pedestrian seafront, just a few kilometers from the Velia-Elea archaeological site. St. John's Night effectively kicks off the Casal Velino summer season, which continues throughout the summer with festivals, cultural reviews, and musical events.

A free event for all ages

Access is free and open to everyone. The 'diffused' format, with aperitifs distributed among participating venues, makes the evening suitable for families with children: you walk, stop, participate in storytelling moments, and wait together for the time of the lanterns. Those who arrive early find parking more easily and can enjoy the sunset over the sea before the activities begin.