End of Summer Festival

The grand finale of the Prenestina summer

Every year in early September, Palestrina bids farewell to the summer season with the End of Summer Festival, two consecutive nights that transform the central Piazza Santa Maria degli Angeli into a vibrant open-air meeting place. The event is promoted by the Bushido Association under the patronage of the Municipality of Palestrina and serves as the final highlight of the Estate Prenestina, a summer-long festival that accompanies residents and visitors from June to September in this town within the Metropolitan City of Rome, in the Lazio region.

Live music and DJ sets

Music is the heart of the festival. The stage in the square hosts a mix of cover bands, local groups, artists from the Prenestina scene, and DJ sets that keep the energy high until late at night. Over the years, the event has featured tributes to Italian music legends, themed nights celebrating the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, nationally renowned DJs, and more intimate acoustic performances. The program is intentionally diverse, designed to get the younger crowd dancing while offering something for those seeking a more relaxed atmosphere.

Sports, dance, and community

The End of Summer Festival is more than just a musical event. A key feature is the space dedicated to local community groups: dance school performances, the presentation of the Palestrina basketball teams ahead of the new season, showcases by sports associations, and the participation of the local marching band. It is a moment for the community to come together and for the local organizations that animate the town year-round to shine.

The food court

Both evenings feature an on-site food court, open from early evening. Sandwiches, fried snacks, beer, and traditional Lazio specialties are available throughout the performances, with outdoor seating that makes the evening perfect for families with children. Admission to the festival is free.

A festival with a purpose

Since its inception, the End of Summer Festival has carried a meaning beyond mere entertainment: the event is organized in memory of two friends, Manuele and Valentino, and has taken on a charitable character over the years. This adds a heartfelt, grassroots touch to the evening, far removed from the logic of large commercial events.

Palestrina, a city to discover

It is well worth arriving in Palestrina a few hours early. The ancient Praeneste is one of the most important archaeological sites in Lazio: the monumental Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia, built on terraces climbing the hillside, dominates the valley and houses the National Archaeological Museum of Palestrina within the Palazzo Colonna Barberini, home to the famous Nile Mosaic. The city is also the birthplace of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, one of the greatest composers of Renaissance sacred music—a musical legacy that this September festival continues to honor centuries later.