Christmas Enchantment (Portonaccio)

Christmas Enchantment: The Widespread Holiday Festival of Municipality IV

Christmas Enchantment is the Christmas festival of Municipality IV in Rome, the vast north-eastern quadrant of the city that includes Portonaccio, Tiburtino, Pietralata, San Basilio, Casal Monastero, and Colli Aniene. Promoted by the municipal administration and curated by the Never Seen association, which won the municipal call for holiday initiatives, the event accompanies citizens from the Advent period through to Epiphany.

A Widespread Programme Across the Territory

Rather than being concentrated in a single location, Christmas Enchantment brings music, theatre, and entertainment to parishes, libraries, and squares throughout the municipality, with a calendar that unites the various neighbourhoods of the Tiburtino area. All events are free of charge and are specifically designed to engage local families and children.

• Gospel concerts in the municipality's parishes, in keeping with Christmas tradition.
• Children's theatre shows, such as "Bobo and the Christmas Factory," hosted in local libraries.
• Creative workshops for children and families in municipal libraries.
• The grand Befana celebration in the square, which concludes the festival on January 6th.

The Befana Celebration in Portonaccio

The most anticipated moment is "The Befana in the Square," which takes place at Largo Antonio Beltramelli, in the heart of the Portonaccio district. On the morning of Epiphany, the square fills with games, entertainment, and activities for the whole family, in a festive atmosphere that marks the end of the Christmas holidays. The day concludes in the evening with a gospel concert in one of the municipality's parishes.

Christmas in the Tiburtino Area

Christmas Enchantment is part of a broader programme of initiatives through which Municipality IV and Rome enliven the holiday season in peripheral neighbourhoods, enhancing public spaces and local cultural venues. In the Lazio region, and particularly in the capital, the Christmas period is traditionally rich in widespread events: this festival represents the version most closely connected to local residents, focusing on accessibility and community participation.