Colle Spina Patronal Feast (Our Lady of Lourdes)

A young festival for a young community

The Colle Spina Patronal Feast is one of the most recent village festivals in the Lazio region. It was established in 2016, when Our Lady of Lourdes was proclaimed queen and patron of the district on July 3rd of that year. The parish had been canonically erected just the year before, on July 5, 2015, to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding area on the outskirts of the Municipality of Labico, in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio.

Today, Colle Spina is the most populous district in the municipal area, with about 1,500 residents: young families, couples with children, and long-time residents who have watched the neighborhood grow year after year. The patronal feast is the moment when this diverse community comes together, and in just a few years, it has taken on an identity-defining role that goes far beyond its short history.

When it takes place

The event is traditionally scheduled for the first weekend of July, commemorating the proclamation of the patron saint. The community also celebrates a second feast linked to Our Lady of Lourdes on February 11, the liturgical memorial of the apparition, preceded by a three-day prayer and meeting period: a more intimate, wintertime moment that serves as a counterpoint to the summer festival.

Faith, processions, and decorated streets

The religious heart of the festival remains the procession with the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes through the streets of the district, accompanied by the faithful and the parish choir. In the days leading up to the event, streets and balconies are filled with decorations, lights, and drapes, following a custom common to all patronal feasts in Lazio. Liturgical celebrations in the parish church mark the weekend and involve the catechism children and youth groups in particular.

Music and food in the square

Alongside the devotional aspect, the parish has always offered musical and culinary initiatives: evenings in the square, stands serving traditional local dishes, shows, and entertainment designed for all ages. The formula is the classic, time-tested one of a Lazio village festival, where outdoor dinners and evening concerts naturally extend the day's festivities. The parish Caritas and community volunteers are the organizational soul of the event, which is largely self-financed through the stands and the traditional raffle.

What to expect

• Procession with the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes through the streets of Colle Spina
• Solemn Masses and moments of prayer in the parish church
• Food stands featuring traditional Lazio specialties
• Musical evenings and shows in the square
• Activities for children and games organized by parish groups

Labico and the Prenestini Mountains

Labico is located just over forty kilometers from Rome, along the route connecting the capital to the Castelli Romani and the Prenestini Mountains. It is a territory known for its agricultural tradition and high-quality gastronomy, which has attracted attention far beyond provincial borders in recent years. A visit to the Colle Spina festival can easily be combined with exploring Palestrina, Valmontone, and other nearby towns, where festivals and patronal feasts take place throughout the summer.

A tip

As this is a local parish festival, the detailed program is primarily shared through the channels of the parish and the Municipality of Labico, generally a few weeks in advance. Those wishing to attend should verify dates and times directly with the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, which remains the organizational reference point for the event.