WoodFest

A forest in the city, in the heart of the Picentini area

WoodFest is a regional food, wine, and music festival held in Pontecagnano Faiano, in the province of Salerno, Campania. Its uniqueness lies in its setting: the city woods on Via Amerigo Vespucci, a green space integrated into the urban fabric that comes alive for ten summer nights with lights, scents, and music. The organizers have dubbed it Casa WoodFest, located in the former A.A.I. premises of the Ministry of Defence, at numbers 14/16 of the same street.

The concept is simple and effective: bring people under the trees, just minutes from the town center and the coast, and tell the story of Campania through what we eat, what we listen to, and what we discuss. The result is a festival that, in just a few editions, has become a highlight of the Picentini summer.

Folk music as a common thread

Every night, the forest stage hosts a free concert. The artistic direction favors Southern folk and singer-songwriter music: contemporary Neapolitan song, tammurriata, reggae, and Mediterranean sounds all coexist in the same lineup. Over the years, the stage has welcomed beloved names from the Campanian scene, from Neapolitan songwriters to traditional music ensembles and historic reggae groups from Salento.

This is not just background entertainment for the stalls: the concert is the centerpiece of the evening, with the audience gathered among the trees and in the area in front of the stage. Access to the shows is free of charge, with no tickets or reservations required.

Traditional Campanian dishes

The food and wine section is managed by stalls preparing local specialties on the spot. The menu features land-based dishes and peasant traditions, alongside essential rotisserie and pastry offerings:

• Lagane e ceci con asparagi (pasta with chickpeas and asparagus), a symbol of Salernitan peasant cuisine
• Tagliata with arugula and cherry tomatoes
• Fried egg with truffle cream and caciocavallo impiccato (melted hanging cheese)
• Arrosticini, sandwiches, pizzas, and fried foods
• Desserts: strawberry tarts, cream puffs, crêpes, and gelato

The experience is designed for an entire evening: arrive early, dine outdoors, and stay for the concert. Conviviality, after all, is one of the event's core values.

Sustainability and the Mediterranean Diet

Alongside music and food, WoodFest dedicates significant space to meetings and conferences. Recurring themes include environmental sustainability, the protection of forest heritage, and the promotion of the Mediterranean Diet, an intangible heritage with deep roots in Campania. Debates feature experts from the scientific community and institutional representatives in an informative format open to the public.

The program is rounded out by exhibitions, educational workshops for children, and a dedicated play area, making the festival perfect for families as well.

A young and growing festival

WoodFest was born from the initiative of a group of young people from the Picentini area, united in the Rewind cultural association, which handles its conception and funding. The first edition was held in 2025 in the Bosco San Benedetto of Montecorvino Pugliano; since 2026, the event has moved to the city woods of Pontecagnano Faiano, earning free patronage from the Campania Region, the Province of Salerno, and the Municipality of Pontecagnano Faiano.

Growth has been rapid: the 2026 edition exceeded 150,000 visitors over ten days, with guests arriving from all over Campania. The organizers have already announced their intention to host the event in the same location in the coming years.

Why it's worth visiting

WoodFest succeeds in something that is not always a given in summer: offering a completely free, open-air event with high-quality musical programming and a serious gastronomic offering. Its location in the woods, with ample parking right by the entrance, makes it convenient for those arriving from Salerno, the coast, or the Piana del Sele. It is a great opportunity to discover Pontecagnano Faiano, a town also known for its important Etruscan-Campanian archaeological park and its proximity to the Salerno-Costa d'Amalfi airport.