Carnevale in Piazzetta

A child-friendly carnival in the center of Gaeta

Carnevale in Piazzetta is the event that, every year between Carnival Sunday and Shrove Tuesday, brings the center of Gaeta, in the province of Latina, in southern Lazio, to life. It is not a carnival of large allegorical floats, but something more intimate and familiar: a town square festival designed especially for children, held in the urban living room of Piazza Vincenzo Capodanno, just a few steps from the seafront.

The event is promoted under the patronage of the Lazio Region, the City of Gaeta, and the Pro Loco Gaeta, and is organized by the entertainment associations Vivere in una Favola and Animazione Orange, which specialize in street performances and costumed characters.

How the festival unfolds

The first afternoon kicks off with a gathering of masked participants in Piazza Mons. Di Liegro (simply known as Piazza Virgilio by locals). From there, the masked procession winds through the streets of the center to Piazza Vincenzo Capodanno, where the main spectacle takes place: jugglers, giant stilt walkers, music, and entertainment.

The second appointment falls on Shrove Tuesday, which traditionally marks the end of the Carnival period before Lent. Here, the square hosts an evening fire show, the most anticipated and photographed moment of the entire event.

• Masked parade through the historic center
• Stilt walkers and jugglers in themed costumes
• Fire show on Shrove Tuesday
• Cotton candy, popcorn, balloons, and confetti throughout the festival
• Completely free admission

A different theme every year

One of the hallmarks of Carnevale in Piazzetta is the choice of a narrative theme that serves as a common thread for costumes, sets, and characters. In 2026, the square was transformed into Alice's Wonderland, with the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, and other figures from Lewis Carroll's tale leading the procession. It is a winning formula: children recognize the characters, parents enjoy spotting the details of the costumes, and the square becomes a small open-air set.

The Gaeta carnival, between land and sea

Carnevale in Piazzetta is part of the wider Carnival calendar of Gaeta, which in recent years has seen the addition of the famous Sea Carnival to the land parades, featuring decorated boats parading in the Gulf and a competition for the most beautiful boat. The Gaeta Carnival in its current form is a relatively young tradition, but it has quickly established itself as one of the most popular Carnival events in the province of Latina, attracting visitors from the neighboring towns of Formia, Minturno, and Itri.

Why it's worth visiting

Those arriving in Gaeta during this period will find an off-season city that is quiet and very pleasant to visit: the medieval district of Sant'Erasmo, the Sanctuary of the Montagna Spaccata, the Angioino-Aragonese Castle, and the beaches of the Gulf are all within walking distance. The carnival thus becomes an opportunity for a day trip that combines festivities, winter sea, and Tyrrhenian cuisine, from the famous tiella di Gaeta to the Gaeta PDO olives.

The afternoon schedule and free admission make the event particularly suitable for families with young children: you can arrive in the early afternoon, follow the procession, and finish in the square without impossible hours.