Viale in Sport

Viale in Sport, the Mercogliano sports festival

Viale in Sport is the annual event that, in Mercogliano (province of Avellino, Campania), opens the doors of sport to anyone eager to give it a go. For one morning, Piazza Attanasio and the entrance to Viale San Modestino cease to be mere urban spaces and become a large outdoor village made of makeshift fields, mats, hoops, and obstacle courses, where local sports clubs welcome children, teenagers, adults, and grandparents alike.

Admission is completely free and no registration is required: you simply arrive, choose the discipline that intrigues you most, and give it a try, guided by the associations' coaches. It is this simple formula, based on free, inclusive sport accessible to everyone, that has made the event one of the most anticipated in the Mercogliano calendar.

The 2026 edition program

The 9th edition took place on Sunday, June 21, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, in Piazza Attanasio. The program alternated between games, demonstrations, and practical trials offered by numerous local and provincial associations, featuring moments of connection between families and sports clubs, and a creative workshop dedicated to the little ones.

• 9:30 AM — Opening of the sports village in Piazza Attanasio, entrance from Viale San Modestino
• Demonstrations and practical trials: from football to volleyball, tennis to martial arts, as well as dance and boxing
• Games and recreational-motor activities for children and teenagers
• Creative workshop for the little ones
• Stands and information points for local sports associations
• 1:00 PM — Closing of the morning

In previous editions, the range of disciplines also included obstacle courses, basketball, fencing, taekwondo, cycling, zumba, skating, and badminton, with exhibitions and lessons held by federal masters and a final draw for sports prizes.

Who organizes it

The event is promoted by the Pro Loco Mercogliano in synergy with the Provincial CONI Delegation of Avellino and with the patronage of the Municipality of Mercogliano. For several years, Viale in Sport has represented the concluding event of the SportDays, the Irpinian festival dedicated to promoting physical activity that has been bringing sport to the squares and parks of the province of Avellino for over twenty years.

The goal declared by the organizers is to promote grassroots sport as a tool for health, personal growth, and social inclusion, fostering encounters between different generations in a public space returned to the community.

A long-standing history

The first editions were held at the end of summer: the fourth took place on September 4, 2016, between Piazza Attanasio and the field below, while the sixth was staged on September 16, 2018, in the area in front of the municipal swimming pool, with a program that already combined obstacle courses, team sports, dance, and Olympic disciplines. In recent years, the appointment has moved to June, effectively becoming the festival that welcomes the beginning of the Mercogliano summer.

Mercogliano, at the foot of the Partenio

Mercogliano is a municipality in Campania nestled on the slopes of Mount Partenio, a few kilometers from Avellino. It is known above all as the gateway to the Sanctuary of Montevergine, one of the most frequented pilgrimage destinations in Southern Italy, reachable by funicular directly from Mercogliano. Viale San Modestino, named after the town's patron saint, is the commercial and social axis of the town: choosing it as the stage for the sports festival means giving the initiative a value that goes beyond physical activity, as it brings people back to experience the everyday street together.

Who it is designed for

Viale in Sport is an event designed for families: children can safely try disciplines they might not know, parents meet coaches and club managers directly to inquire about courses and projects for the following season, while adults and the elderly find an opportunity for socialization in the open air. Those visiting Irpinia that weekend can combine the morning in the square with a trip up to Montevergine or a walk in the Partenio Regional Park.