Tutti in Palla – Environment and Mental Health Festival

A festival that unites environment and mental health

Tutti in Palla is the Environment and Mental Health Festival that brings Cerignola to life every spring. Located in the heart of the Capitanata region in the province of Foggia, the event is promoted by the association ANPIS Puglia (National Association for Social Inclusion) in partnership with the Municipality of Cerignola and its Department of the Environment, involving a network of third-sector, educational, and healthcare partners.

The festival stems from a simple yet profound idea: human health and environmental health are inextricably linked. This is the One Health approach promoted by the World Health Organization, which recognizes that human, animal, and ecosystem well-being are part of a single, delicate balance. For this reason, "Tutti in Palla" brings together themes that often remain separate: environmental education, inclusive sport, health prevention, and mental well-being.

A week of widespread initiatives

Throughout the event, Cerignola transforms into an open-air urban laboratory. The program alternates between sporting, cultural, and social activities that engage citizens of all ages. Recurring activities include:

• health walks and cycling tours through the city streets;
• afternoon environmental workshops and waste recycling initiatives;
• institutional conferences and training sessions on mental health;
• free health screenings, health information, and blood donation drives with ASL Foggia and AVIS, for example in the Zona Mezzaluna;
• educational theater and the grand finale show in the Villa Comunale.

Art born from waste

One of the most recognizable features of the festival is the creation of large participatory murals built from recycled materials. For months, school children and citizens collect thousands of colorful plastic caps, which are then assembled into true works of urban art. A standout piece is the mural by Venezuelan artist Oscar Olivares, inaugurated at the entrance to the Town Hall with over 73,000 collected caps: it depicts the stork, the city's symbol, the world, and Mother Earth. A second mural was created in the San Samuele district. As the Councilor for the Environment, Vincenzo Sforza, noted, "a work of art that teaches us all the value of the environment can be born from waste".

An event for the whole community

Each edition revolves around a guiding theme that updates the festival's message: from the enhancement of public green spaces to the link between air quality, urban environments, and psychological well-being. Supported financially by the municipal administration, "Tutti in Palla" is designed as a free and open event, capable of bringing together associations, schools, athletes, and families. For Cerignola and the entire Puglia region, it represents a model of sustainable events, focused on waste reduction, soft mobility, and social inclusion.