Valva Carnival Zeppolata

The Valva Carnival and the art of zeppole

Some festivals don't need huge crowds to be authentic: the Carnival Zeppolata in Valva, a small town in the province of Salerno overlooking the upper Sele Valley, is one of them. Every year, in the heart of the carnival season, the Pro Loco d'Ayala Valva turns the village into a large festive courtyard where masks, games, and music mingle with the scent of freshly fried sweet zeppole. The 2026 edition marked the eighth year of this event, which has now become a permanent fixture in the winter calendar of inland Campania.

The Ex Cantine S.M.O.M., the heart of the event

The festival's headquarters are the Ex Cantine S.M.O.M., ancient spaces tied to the village's history, now repurposed as a venue for cultural and gastronomic events by the Pro Loco. This is where the tasting tables, the entertainment stage, and visitor welcome points are set up; it is the starting and ending point for the masked parade. A cozy, indoor space protected from the February cold, which gives the day that familiar, convivial character typical of festivals in the inland villages of Salerno.

Carnival parade, games, and shows

The afternoon kicks off with the carnival parade: improvised masks and homemade costumes, groups of children, families, and young people walk through the village streets amidst confetti and music. Upon returning, the festival area fills with games, entertainment, and shows designed for all ages, in an atmosphere of joy and sharing that is the true hallmark of the event.

• Masked parade open to everyone, no registration or organized groups required
• Entertainment and games for children
• Music and performances throughout the afternoon
• Continuous tasting of sweet zeppole

The sweet zeppole of the Valva tradition

The zeppola is the undisputed star, even giving the festival its name. In Valva, the recipe is a home-style one, passed down from generation to generation: a dough kneaded for a long time, fried on the spot, and served hot, sprinkled with sugar. The Pro Loco volunteers prepare large quantities in the hours leading up to the event so that the tasting can continue throughout the afternoon. It is a simple, humble dessert that tells the story of the valley's rural culture and the bond between Carnival and seasonal cuisine better than any speech.

Valva and the upper Sele Valley

Valva is a village of a few hundred inhabitants nestled on the slopes of the Picentini Mountains, famous above all for the Villa d'Ayala-Valva and its monumental park, one of the most beautiful historic gardens in Southern Italy. Visiting the village during the Zeppolata means discovering it in its most vibrant guise, when the community gathers and opens its doors to those arriving from neighboring valley towns — Colliano, Laviano, Buccino, Contursi Terme — and the rest of the province of Salerno.

A community festival

The Zeppolata was born and continues to grow thanks to the volunteer work of the Pro Loco d'Ayala Valva, which also organizes other cultural and gastronomic events in the Ex Cantine spaces throughout the year. Admission to the event is free: there are no tickets or reservations, and participation is open to anyone wishing to spend a Carnival afternoon in an authentic village in Campania.

When it takes place

The event falls during the Carnival period, between February and early March depending on the liturgical calendar, always on a Sunday starting in the early afternoon. The 2026 edition was held on Sunday, February 15, while the previous one took place on Sunday, March 2, 2025. To find out the date of the next edition, it is best to follow the social media channels of the Pro Loco d'Ayala Valva, where posters and programs are published in the weeks leading up to the festival.