Christmas in Circeo - Winter Lights, Flavors, and Magic

A month of winter magic on the Circeo promontory

When the summer lights fade, San Felice Circeo, a jewel of the Latina province overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, lights up for the holidays. "Christmas in Circeo - Winter Lights, Flavors, and Magic" is the program organized by the Municipality of San Felice Circeo, in collaboration with the Pro Loco Circeo and the Circeo National Park Authority. It features a full month of events, from the Immaculate Conception long weekend to Epiphany, enlivening the medieval historic center, the seaside district of Borgo Montenero, and the National Park. Illuminations, markets, concerts, exhibitions, nativity scenes, and creative workshops turn the town into a winter destination that surprises those who only know it as a seaside resort.

The ice rink and the Christmas Village

The heart of the festivities is Piazzale Kennedy, where a free ice skating rink operates daily from December 8 to January 6 (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM). This popular attraction for families and youth is part of the "Christmas Air in the Parks" initiative promoted with the Park Authority. Surrounding the rink is the Christmas Village, featuring wooden stalls, entertainment, and activities for children, while the historic center's markets offer handicrafts, gift ideas, and typical products from the Pontine territory.

Music from gospel to jazz

Music accompanies every evening of the program. The opening on Saturday, December 6, features "Christmas Swing" in the historic center, followed by weeks of gospel, jazz, and classic Christmas concerts. A highlight is the "Christmas Tales" piano concert on Tuesday, December 30, at 7:00 PM in the Auditorium of the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, a journey through Christmas stories and atmospheres with Noemi Marchiotto, Giorgia Piracci, Anita Repele, and Dario De Francesco, who also directs the show, featuring music by Romolo Alessandrelli.

Borgo Montenero and the living nativity

Religious and folk traditions take center stage in Borgo Montenero, where the living nativity scene is performed on January 4 and 6 at 7:00 PM. It is an immersive journey through the village streets, brought to life by actors, artisans, and shepherds recreating the Nativity atmosphere. The town also hosts artistic nativity exhibitions, while guided walks in the Circeo National Park offer a winter perspective on the Mediterranean scrub, the promontory, and the lagoon.

Winter flavors: the Canascione Festival

The "flavors" chapter culminates on Saturday, January 3, starting at 11:00 AM in Piazza Guglielmo Marconi, with the 12th edition of the Canascione Festival. This event features free tastings of the typical Sanfeliciana stuffed pizza, a local peasant specialty served in the heart of the historic center. It is a perfect opportunity to sample local gastronomy alongside mulled wine, Christmas sweets, and typical market products.

A project supported by the Lazio Region

"Christmas in Circeo" is more than just entertainment; it is a regional promotion project recognized and funded by the Lazio Region with a €20,000 grant, rewarding its quality and ability to combine tradition, culture, and local enhancement. As always, the grand finale belongs to the Befana, who arrives on January 6 to greet the children and bring a joyful end to a month of celebrations between the sea, the village, and nature.