CIURMA! The festival of rascals and scallywags
The festival for families and children within the medieval walls of Barbara
About CIURMA!
A festival for anyone who feels like a rascal
CIURMA! The festival of rascals and scallywags is a cultural event dedicated to children, teens, and families that takes place in the heart of Barbara, a small inland municipality in the province of Ancona, in the Marche region. Every year, the village opens its doors for a day of readings, art, theater, and performing arts, transforming alleys, squares, and historic center spaces into a large, widespread stage for the little ones and for anyone, at any age, who still feels a bit like a rascal.
Who organizes CIURMA!
The festival is promoted by Spunk - the Laboratory of Cultural Contamination in collaboration with Libreria Kamillo, a bookstore for children and teens, and with the support of numerous local entities: the Pro Loco, the Social Center, and the Municipality of Barbara. Founded in 2022, it has grown edition after edition to become one of the most anticipated spring events in the Vallesina and Valmisa area.
The medieval walls as a backdrop
Since 2025, the festival's stage has become the historic center of Barbara Castle: the ancient walls, squares, and glimpses of the village host performances, workshops, and moments of reading aloud. This setting makes CIURMA! an immersive experience, where the historical heritage of the town dialogues with contemporary creativity and play.
An intergenerational program
CIURMA! is not just an event for children; it's a project that intertwines generations. Alongside performances and workshops for the little ones, the festival offers participatory projects that also involve the town's elders, guardians of the community's memory. Readings, stories, performing arts, and workshop activities make up a program that values listening, imagination, and the bond between those who live in Barbara and those who visit it.
- Readings and storytelling for children and families
- Workshops and performing arts activities
- Theater and street theater performances in the historic center
- Participatory and intergenerational projects with the community
Free and open to all, CIURMA! is an opportunity to discover Barbara and the Marche hinterland in a festive guise, where culture becomes shared play and the entire village transforms into a place of imagination.
CIURMA! — edition 2026
CIURMA! 2026 - Fifth Edition
The 5th edition of CIURMA! The festival of rascals and scallywags was held in Barbara (Ancona) with the highlight day on Sunday, May 10, 2026, within the village walls. The theme of the edition, 'There was a door… and there still is', developed the thread of the 'Right to Imagine,' inviting children, teens, and families to cross real and symbolic thresholds.
'Thresholds' Workshop
As part of the festival, the intensive performing arts workshop 'Thresholds' was held, led by the collective CasArte (Michele Nardi and Nathalie Cariolle), on May 3, 9, and 10 in the Municipal Hall and Piazza Garibaldi. Aimed at adults, the course combined physical training, active imagination, and urban explorations, culminating in a micro-performance itinerating through the historic center.
Memory and Community
On Friday, May 8, at 6:30 PM, the project 'A story for you…' was presented to the community. It was created by the town's elders along with Veronica Janise Conti and Eleonora Ilari: from the childhood memories of the inhabitants, an illustrated story was born, which the elders themselves read to the children during the festival.
Programme CIURMA! 2026
Sunday, May 3
- 'Thresholds' performing arts workshop (10:00 AM - 6:00 PM), by CasArte, Municipal Hall and Piazza Garibaldi
Friday, May 8
- 6:30 PM - Presentation to the community of the project 'A story for you…', created by the town's elders with Veronica Janise Conti and Eleonora Ilari; festival preview with the voices of the program's artists
Saturday, May 9
- 'Thresholds' workshop (10:00 AM - 6:00 PM), Municipal Hall and Piazza Garibaldi
Sunday, May 10 - Main Day
- 'Thresholds' workshop (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM) and itinerant micro-performance in the historic center
- Day of performances, readings, performing arts, and workshops for children and families within the village walls
- Readings of the illustrated story born from the 'A story for you…' project
All activities took place in the historic center of Barbara. For the full schedule of performances on May 10, please refer to the official channels of Spunk and Libreria Kamillo.
Highlights CIURMA! 2026
Prices CIURMA! 2026
Practical information — CIURMA!
Where
The festival takes place in the historic center of Barbara (province of Ancona, Marche), within the medieval castle walls. Activities and workshops are also held at the Municipal Hall and in Piazza Garibaldi.
How to get there
Barbara is located in the Ancona hinterland, in the Valmisa. By car, it can be reached from the A14 highway exit at Senigallia, continuing inland along the Misa Valley. The nearest train station is Senigallia, from which you can continue by car or local transport.
Costs
Admission to the festival is free. The workshops promoted as part of the event, such as the performing arts workshop, are also free, with advance registration.
Contacts
Organization by Spunk - the Laboratory of Cultural Contamination and Libreria Kamillo. For information on workshops led by CasArte: [email protected].
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Where does it take place — CIURMA!
Centro storico di Barbara