Civitella Roveto Carnival Parade

The Civitella Roveto Carnival

The Civitella Roveto Carnival Parade is one of the most anticipated winter events in the Valle Roveto municipality, located in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of Abruzzo. Described by the organizers themselves as the most colorful festival of the year, the event transforms the town center into a long procession of colors, sounds, and joy that involves every generation, from children to the elderly.

Allegorical floats and costumes

The heart of the parade lies in the allegorical floats which, as every year, draw inspiration from various themes: from satire and caricature to fantasy and the events of the past year. Alongside the floats, participants march in costumes and groups carefully prepared by families, associations, and local citizens. Participation is free and open to all: anyone can register at no cost to join the parade, and those who present the best costume, group, or float receive a prize.

The day's program

Participants meet in Piazza Gran Sasso, the starting point of the parade that winds through the town streets. At the end of the procession, the festivities continue with balloon art, games, and music for everyone's enjoyment, in a spirit of sharing that the municipal administration has described as a triumph of collective identity.

A community event

The event is organized by the Comitato Feste Madonna delle Grazie, with the collaboration of the Pro Loco, the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Civitella Roveto, and the numerous volunteers who make the festival possible every year. More than just a simple costume event, the Civitella Roveto Carnival represents a moment of gathering for the entire Valle Roveto and the Marsica region, capable of renewing Abruzzo's popular traditions and bringing the town to life in the depths of winter.

Abruzzo Carnival traditions

As in most of Abruzzo, Carnival in Civitella Roveto is accompanied by the typical flavors of the season, from chiacchiere and castagnole to cicerchiata—fried sweets that scent the homes and squares of the town. The parade thus fits into a broader regional tradition that, through colors, sounds, and flavors, tells the story of the identity of the villages in the province of L'Aquila.