Washo Festival

A festival born from friendship

The Washo Festival is a memorial event held in Barete, a small village in the Upper Aterno Valley in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of the Abruzzo mountains. The event was founded in 2022 by a group of friends who wanted to remember Alessandro, known to everyone as Washo, described as "a golden boy who loved life, always smiling and always ready with a joke." This inspired a format that is anything but melancholic: a true festival featuring loud music, beer, and joy, created to make some noise in his honor.

Sport, games, and community

The Washo Festival formula combines sports, music, food, and a great desire to have fun. The day kicks off in the morning with outdoor activities that take advantage of the landscape of the L'Aquila hinterland: trial bike and off-road excursions, cycling tours, trekking along the "Sentiero del Cuore" (Path of the Heart), fishing competitions, and beach volleyball tournaments. The afternoon continues with sports finals, a bocce tournament, and games for children, in a festive atmosphere that involves the entire Barete community.

• Morning: trial bike and off-road excursions, cycling tours, trekking, fishing competition, beach volleyball
• Afternoon: sports finals, bocce tournament, children's games
• Evening: DJ sets until late at night, magic show, food & drink area

Music-filled evenings

As the sun sets, the Washo Festival changes rhythm and transforms into a long evening party. The DJ set keeps the crowd entertained until late at night, alternating with entertainment such as magic shows and competitions, while the food & drink area remains the village's main gathering point. A free shuttle service (by reservation) makes it easy to travel to Barete, encouraging participation from those arriving from neighboring towns.

A staple for Barete

Having grown edition after edition since 2022, the Washo Festival has become a defining event for Barete and the interior of Abruzzo: the fourth edition took place in September 2025. More than just a local village fair, it is the way an entire community continues to remember a friend, turning memory into a day of sport, music, and sharing open to everyone.