Fonte Nuova Carnival

A local festival at the gates of Rome

The Fonte Nuova Carnival is the most popular winter event in this town within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the heart of Lazio. Born from the desire to create an event capable of uniting its two historical souls—Tor Lupara and Santa Lucia, the former hamlets of Mentana that gave life to the Municipality of Fonte Nuova in 2001—the Carnival is now a consolidated tradition that draws thousands of people along the Via Nomentana every February.

Allegorical floats on the Nomentana

The heart of the event is the parade of allegorical floats, which travels along a stretch of the Via Nomentana closed to traffic for the occasion by municipal ordinance. The floats, built in the preceding months by local associations, parishes, neighborhood committees, and volunteer groups, move slowly, accompanied by masked groups, marching bands, entertainers, and sound systems playing music along the entire route. This is not a large-scale spectacle like those in Ronciglione or Viareggio: here, the value lies in the community and artisanal dimension, in the fact that the floats are built by the residents themselves.

The parade culminates in the square with entertainment and the awards ceremony for the most successful floats and masked groups, judged on originality, attention to costume detail, and public engagement. Confetti, streamers, and the distribution of traditional seasonal sweets mark the end of the day.

Organizers

The event is conceived and organized by the Pro Loco Fonte Nuova Tourist Association, the same entity that manages the famous Rose Festival in late spring, with the financial and organizational support of the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Fonte Nuova. The Pro Loco operates at several points in the area, with its main office in Tor Lupara and information desks in Santa Lucia: these offices, as well as the association's social media channels, are the places to contact to register a float or a masked group for the parade.

A carnival for families

The Fonte Nuova Carnival is designed primarily for children and families. Admission is free, dressing up in costume is encouraged for all ages, and the flat route along the Nomentana makes the parade easily accessible even with strollers. Along the route, there is no shortage of food stands and stalls selling frittelle, castagnole, and chiacchiere, the traditional treats that mark the Carnival period throughout Lazio.

Fonte Nuova and its surroundings

Fonte Nuova is located a few kilometers northeast of Rome, along the historic Via Nomentana that connected the Eternal City to the Sabina region. It is a young but densely populated municipality that has built its own civic identity over the last twenty years through its major popular festivals: the Carnival in February and the Rose Festival in May-June. Visitors from out of town can combine their visit with a walk in nearby Mentana, with its Garibaldi museum, or explore the green areas of the Nomentana countryside.