Carnevale in Festa (Dragona)

A Carnival born from the neighborhood

Carnevale in Festa is the major Carnival celebration that gathers the neighborhoods of Dragona, Dragoncello, and Bagnoletto every year. Located on the southwestern outskirts of Rome, within the X Municipality and the Lazio region, this is not a monumental carnival with elaborate floats, but something rarer: a celebration built entirely from the ground up by neighborhood committees and the Insieme per la Curtis Draconis Association. Every February, they transform a local sports facility into a dance floor for hundreds of costumed children.

The formula is simple and has been successful for years: one afternoon, a covered rink, loud music, and the best homemade costumes. The result is a deeply identity-driven event where residents reconnect with their neighbors and where a sense of community matters more than the spectacle itself.

Where it takes place

The festival is held at the Dragona Social Sports Center, at Via la Corsesca 1, near the skating rink and just a short walk from Via dei Romagnoli. The space, which serves as the headquarters for the Dragona Citizens' Committee, is set up by volunteers in the days leading up to the event. It offers the advantage of being indoors, meaning Carnevale in Festa proceeds even in bad weather—a significant guarantee for a mid-February event.

The afternoon program

The event is concentrated into a single afternoon, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with a schedule designed to engage children, teenagers, and adults alike:

• Hosted by showman Gianluca Chiadroni, who guides the entire afternoon;
• Music and dancing with DJ Karim, featuring hits for the little ones and classic group dance tracks;
• Happy Pingua Entertainment, with face painting and children's games;
• Prize-winning costume contest, the highlight of the day;
• Refreshments and social moments provided by local volunteers and shopkeepers.

The costume contest

This is the heart of the event and the reason why, in the weeks prior, many households in the neighborhood break out the needle and thread. Registration takes place on-site from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM and is free. There are two categories:

• Children and teenagers up to 18 years old, in individual or group costumes: the top seven finishers are awarded;
• Adults, individual or group: the top three finishers are awarded;
• For groups, there is a special recognition for the first-place winner.

One request is made by the organizers every year: no confetti, only streamers. This is a practical choice made out of respect for the shared space, simplifying the cleaning of the sports facility used by local clubs throughout the year.

Dragona, between history and suburbia

The name of the festival and the organizing association refers to Curtis Draconis, the early medieval settlement that once stood in this area of the Roman countryside, between Ostia and the Tiber valley. Today, Dragona is a growing residential neighborhood, far from the capital's tourist circuits, where citizens' associations play an essential role in animating social life. In this sense, Carnevale in Festa is much more than a party: it is a concrete demonstration of what an active community network can achieve.

Why it's worth attending

Those looking for a spectacular Carnival will find the major events of the Lazio region elsewhere. However, those who want to see how Carnival is truly celebrated in the neighborhoods of Rome—among families, volunteers, and costumed children—will find an authentic, free, and welcoming event here. Admission is free, and participation in the contest is open to everyone, residents and visitors alike.