The patron of Copertino is Saint Joseph of Copertino, the Franciscan friar born in the town; his feast is celebrated on 18 September, but the celebrations begin on the 16th and close with a concert on the 19th.
During the same period the town hosts the "youth meeting" organised by the Conventual Friars Minor of Puglia, which closes with the entrusting of the new school year to the saint; since 1945 the satirical newspaper "La Macennula" has also come out for the patronal festivities, and a civic museum gathers relics, garments and letters that belonged to the saint.
