Aprilia Carnival
The Aprilia Carnival featuring parades, masquerade groups, and street bands in the heart of the city
About Aprilia Carnival
The Aprilia Carnival
The Aprilia Carnival is the most anticipated festive event in Aprilia, a populous town in the province of Latina, in the Lazio region. For a few days in February, the city center transforms into a large open-air celebration, with parades, masks, confetti, music, and entertainment filling the main streets between Piazza Nenni and Piazza Roma. It is a tradition deeply rooted in the community, involving schools, associations, dance troupes, and families from every neighborhood.
A Community Celebration
The Aprilia Carnival is more than just a spectacle; it is, above all, a moment of social cohesion for the city. The festivities traditionally open with the children's school parade, which brings the morning of Fat Thursday to life with costumes prepared in the preceding weeks. In the following days, the spotlight shifts to masquerade groups, local marching bands, and performances by folk and dance troupes, creating a traveling celebration open to everyone.
Between Tradition and Change
Historically, the heart of the event consisted of the famous allegorical floats made of papier-mâché, crafted by local workshops and paraded repeatedly through the city streets. In recent years, the festival has undergone a transformation: while maintaining its popular spirit, the most recent edition has focused on parades, street bands, masquerade groups, and entertainment, confirming the city's commitment to keeping its Carnival alive.
What to Expect
- Colorful parades along the streets of Aprilia's city center
- Participation of schools and children in costume
- Masquerade groups, marching bands, flag-wavers, and folk troupes
- Craft markets and entertainment for children
- A free, family-friendly festive atmosphere
Aprilia and its Territory
A young and dynamic city in the Agro Pontino, Aprilia offers visitors the chance to discover Carnival in an authentic, local setting—far from the most crowded tourist destinations but close to Rome and the Lazio coast. The Aprilia Carnival represents one of the community's defining events and an opportunity to experience the popular traditions of lower Lazio firsthand.
Aprilia Carnival — edition 2026
Aprilia Carnival 2026
The 2026 edition of the Aprilia Carnival was distinguished by a renewed format: for the first time, the festival took place without the traditional allegorical floats, due to a dispute between the Municipality of Aprilia and the association of workshops that built the papier-mâché structures. The city nevertheless chose not to give up its Carnival, proposing three days of parades, music, and entertainment in the city center, organized with the involvement of the local Pro Loco.
The festival brought together schools, masquerade groups, bands, and folk troupes in an itinerant route between Piazza Nenni and Piazza Roma, confirming the popular and communal spirit of the event.
Programme Aprilia Carnival 2026
Thursday, February 12 - Children's Carnival
- 9:00 AM: Meeting at Piazza Nenni
- 9:30 AM: Start of the school parade (Via Nenni, Via degli Oleandri, Piazza B. Croce, Via Galilei, Via dei Lauri)
- 11:30 AM: Arrival at Piazza Roma
Sunday, February 15 - Masquerade Group Parade
- 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM: Craft and antique market in Piazza Roma, with face painting
- 2:30 PM: Meeting at Piazza Nenni
- 3:00 PM: Start of the parade (Piazza Roma, Via delle Margherite, Via Volta, Via dei Lauri)
- Entertainment with the City Band, the folk group Samba Precario, and the Flag-wavers of Cori
- 5:00 PM: Arrival at Piazza Roma
Tuesday, February 17 - Masquerade Group and School Parade
- 2:30 PM: Meeting at Piazza Roma
- 3:00 PM: Start of the parade (Via degli Oleandri, Piazza Croce, Via Galilei, Via dei Lauri)
- Performances by the Latin-American group, the folk group La Reggia, and Disney mascots
- 5:00 PM: Arrival at Piazza Roma
Highlights Aprilia Carnival 2026
- Three days of festivities in the center of Aprilia
- School parade and Children's Carnival
- Masquerade groups, street bands, and flag-wavers
- Craft market and face painting in Piazza Roma
- Edition without allegorical floats but full of entertainment
Prices Aprilia Carnival 2026
Practical information — Aprilia Carnival
Getting There
Aprilia is located in the Agro Pontino, in the province of Latina, with good connections to Rome. By car, it can be reached via the Via Pontina (SS148) and the Via Nettunense. By train, the Aprilia station is served by the regional Rome-Nettuno line. The parades take place in the city center, between Piazza Nenni and Piazza Roma.
Admission
Access to all Carnival events is free of charge. For updated information on dates and the program, it is recommended to check the Municipality of Aprilia's website or contact the municipal offices.
Tips
This event is ideal for families with children. We recommend arriving early at the parade meeting points and checking for any potential traffic diversions in the city center during the event days.
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Where does it take place — Aprilia Carnival
Piazza Roma