Old-Fashioned Games Event in Ferrandina: A Celebration of Tradition

Ferrandina Prepares for Fourth Edition of Traditional Games Night in Piazza Plebiscito

The town of Ferrandina, located in the Matera province, is hosting the fourth annual “I Giochi di una Volta in Piazza” on Monday, August 3, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Piazza Plebiscito. Organized by the association Lo Scoiattolo Aps, the event forms part of the broader Settimana dello Sport Ferrandinese—a municipal initiative supported by Csen Basilicata. The gathering is designed to highlight local popular traditions through outdoor play, community engagement, and historic street games for families and children.

Activities, Treasure Hunts, and Historic Street Games

The evening opens with the “Caccia all’Oro Giallo di Ferrandina,” a historic center treasure hunt written by Pina De Filippis and hosted by presenter Cristina Longo. Beginning at 7:00 p.m., Piazza Plebiscito features classic traditional pastimes, including sack races, red rover (rubabandiera), jump rope, marble tracks, and hopscotch. According to event organizers, the program also includes the “Maschera Bollente” variant of hot potato, coordinated by Carla Casertelli and the Passioni e Tradizioni association.

Additional traditional activities feature handmade wooden spinning tops and tug-of-war games led by author Mario Pallotta, alongside custom target-shooting structures provided by association member Antonio Latronico. The programming aims to preserve generational play methods through active community participation.

Street Performance and Evening Finale

At 9:00 p.m., the event concludes with “Capitomboli,” a street theater performance created and performed by artist Rukola. The production follows the journey of a traveler returning from a 40-year global expedition searching for the legendary fountain of youth.