Carosello International Festival of Street Theatre, Contemporary Circus and Street Artists

A street festival in the heart of Ciociaria

The Carosello International Festival of Street Theatre, Contemporary Circus and Street Artists is one of the longest-running and most recognizable summer events in Lazio. It takes place every year in mid-July in Paliano, a hillside village in the province of Frosinone overlooking the Sacco Valley, where the historic centre is closed to traffic and given over entirely to the public and the artists. For three consecutive evenings, alleys, stairways, and squares become natural backdrops for performances that unfold without a curtain and without any distance from the audience.

Street theatre and contemporary circus

The Carosello formula combines two souls that are increasingly intertwined today: street theatre, with its direct comedy and ability to captivate spectators in seconds, and contemporary circus, which has moved beyond simple acrobatic stunts to create true scenic narratives. The programme features a mix of Italian and foreign troupes, aerial artists, mimes, clowns, jugglers, illusionists, and roving musicians. Street bands—brass and percussion on the move—weave the different performance spots together, leading the audience from one square to the next.

More than just shows

Alongside the artistic programme, the festival offers a range of activities that fill the afternoon and evening, making the event particularly family-friendly:

• Workshops for children and teenagers, from juggling to manual activities
• Art exhibitions and live painting sessions along the village streets
• Craft market with handmade creations
• Street food and refreshment points open every evening from 7:00 PM to 1:30 AM

Who organizes it

The event is conceived and directed by Paolo Quintiliani and is organized by the Teatro della Luna association, a group deeply rooted in the local area and active in the production and promotion of street arts. Carosello is held under the patronage of the Municipality of Paliano, the Lazio Region, and the Ministry of Culture, and is supported by the regional grant for live performance; supporters also include the BCC of Paliano. Admission is strictly free for all performances, a choice the organizers uphold as part of the festival's very identity.

Paliano, the village that becomes a stage

Paliano retains a compact urban layout, dominated by the bulk of the Colonna fortress, with glimpses and open spaces that naturally lend themselves to outdoor performances. During the festival, the city fills with visitors from all over Ciociaria and the Roman area, who can walk from one show to another throughout the evening. It is also an opportunity to discover local gastronomy and the hills that separate the Prenestini Mountains from the Sacco Valley.

Why it's worth visiting

Carosello Festival is among the most established street art events in Lazio: twenty-four editions built with continuity, a programme that alternates well-known names from the national circuit with international acts, and a nocturnal, popular atmosphere that has earned a loyal audience over the years. First-time visitors will find a city in celebration, with shows following one another until late at night and the chance to enjoy everything without a ticket.