Carchitti Strawberry Festival
Two weekends in May dedicated to the sweet strawberries of the Prenestini Mountains
About Strawberry Festival
A festival born from the land of the Prenestini Mountains
The Carchitti Strawberry Festival is one of the longest-running and most beloved events in the Prenestina area. Carchitti is a village in the Municipality of Palestrina, in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the heart of Lazio: a small agricultural center where strawberry cultivation has become, over the decades, a true collective identity. The soil composition and the sun exposure of the Prenestini hills give these fruits a fragrance and sweetness that have made the name of Carchitti familiar well beyond the provincial borders.
The event, reaching its 46th edition in 2026, is organized by the Pro Loco Carchitti-Valvarino with the support of the Palestrina municipal administration and involves practically the entire village: farming families, associations, youth groups, and volunteers work for months preparing the floats and stalls.
The strawberry in all its forms
The delicious heart of the festival is the food stalls, where freshly picked strawberries are served according to local traditional recipes:
- strawberries with cream, the timeless classic;
- strawberries in red wine or with lemon, according to peasant custom;
- tarts, ice creams, and artisanal desserts prepared by the local housewives;
- jams and preserves to take home;
- typical dishes of Prenestina cuisine, with a dedicated gluten-free area.
Alongside the food, there are craft markets, local producer stalls, and a traditional exhibition of agricultural machinery, a testament to the area's rural vocation.
The strawberry floats and folklore
The most anticipated moment is the parade of allegorical floats, decorated with thousands of strawberries and accompanied by folk groups in costume. Every year, the flag-wavers of Soriano nel Cimino and a twin delegation from Bièvres, France, participate in the procession, a consolidated bond that gives the festival a small international dimension.
Music, shows, and families
The evening program alternates between live concerts, tribute bands, DJ sets, cabaret, and dance performances; there is no shortage of equestrian shows, juggling and fire performances, and gatherings of sports and vintage cars. For the little ones, a large children's area is set up with games and afternoon entertainment. The grand finale is entrusted to the fireworks that close the last Sunday.
Why it's worth the trip
Less than an hour from Rome, the Strawberry Festival is a perfect opportunity to discover a more authentic side of Lazio: the festival can be combined with a visit to Palestrina, the ancient Praeneste, with the monumental Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia and the National Archaeological Museum of Palestrina housed in Palazzo Colonna Barberini. A weekend that combines archaeology, hilly landscapes, and seasonal flavors.
Strawberry Festival — edition 2026
46th edition: two weekends of celebration
For 2026, the Pro Loco Carchitti-Valvarino confirmed the formula over the two central weekends of May, when the strawberries of the Prenestini Mountains reach full maturity. Food stalls, craft markets, agricultural machinery exhibitions, and shows were spread between Piazza delle Rose and the streets of the village of Carchitti, in the Municipality of Palestrina.
The program alternated between traditional moments — mass with the choir, the official inauguration, the two strawberry float parades — and musical evenings with DJ sets and live concerts, equestrian shows, dance school performances, and a sports car gathering. The grand finale on the closing Sunday was entrusted to the midnight fireworks.
Programme Strawberry Festival 2026
Saturday, May 9
- 17:00 — opening of food stalls, craft markets, and children's area
- 18:00 — presentation of the "Roots and Traditions" project
- 18:30 — juggling and fire show
- 22:00 — DJ set and dance party
Sunday, May 10
- 10:00 — mass accompanied by the choir
- 11:00 — official inauguration with authorities and the delegation from Bièvres (France)
- 11:30 — performance by the flag-wavers of Soriano nel Cimino
- 13:00 — opening of food stalls (with gluten-free area)
- 16:30 — street music through the village
- 18:00 — strawberry float parade and equestrian show
- 21:30 — live concert
Saturday, May 16
- 16:00-19:00 — games and entertainment for children
- 17:00 — opening of markets and food stalls
- 18:30 — equestrian show
- 22:00 — live music
Sunday, May 17
- 11:30 — opening of stalls and book presentation
- 12:00 — dance school performances
- 16:00 — sports car gathering
- 18:00 — second strawberry float parade
- 21:00 — closing concert
- 24:00 — final fireworks display
Highlights Strawberry Festival 2026
- The two parades of allegorical floats covered in thousands of strawberries
- The flag-wavers of Soriano nel Cimino and the twin delegation from Bièvres
- Carchitti strawberries served with cream, red wine, or lemon, and local artisanal desserts
- The equestrian show and the children's area with games and entertainment
- The midnight fireworks closing the event
Prices Strawberry Festival 2026
Practical information — Strawberry Festival
How to get there
By car from Rome: A1 motorway, San Cesareo or Valmontone exit, then follow signs for Carchitti (about 45-60 minutes). Alternatively, via Casilina (SS6). Free parking in designated areas on the outskirts of the village.
By public transport: Cotral bus from the Anagnina terminus of Metro A to Palestrina, then local connection to the village of Carchitti.
Hours and admission
Free admission. Stalls are generally open from late afternoon on Saturday and all day on Sunday, closing late in the evening.
Contacts
Pro Loco Carchitti-Valvarino — tel. +39 06 95290044 — [email protected] — Facebook page «Pro Loco Carchitti Valvarino».
Tips
Arrive early on Sunday to find a spot along the float parade route. Bring cash: many volunteer-run stalls do not accept cards. A gluten-free area is available.
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Where does it take place — Strawberry Festival
Carchitti, centro della frazione
Piazza delle Rose, 00036 Palestrina