Frattocchie Festival - What Music, Kids!

A neighborhood festival spanning over twenty years

Frattocchie Festival, best known for its musical showcase «What Music, Kids!», is one of the longest-running events in the calendar of the Municipality of Marino, located in the Castelli Romani area near Rome (Lazio). Originally conceived as the grand finale for free music courses offered to local youth, it has evolved over the years into a true community celebration that brings together families, schools, the local parish, and volunteer associations for a single day of music and togetherness.

The event is organized by Marino Aperta APS, a social promotion association active in the Marino area for over eighteen years. Throughout the year, they host free music workshops and instrument courses at schools in Frattocchie and Santa Maria delle Mole. The festival serves as the moment when this daily work is shared with the public: children and teenagers who have attended the courses take the stage before an audience of parents, grandparents, teachers, and neighbors.

The heart of the program: recitals and choirs

The structure of the day is well-established and changes very little. The afternoon kicks off with a performance by the Piccolo Coro del Fiore Blu, a children's choir that stages a story inspired by a classic children's tale every year. This is followed by the final recital for the guitar, drum, and piano courses, featuring both solo and group performances. The event also includes the participation of the Polyphonic Choir of the Frattocchie Senior Center (CAFM APS), which gives the festival its most authentic intergenerational character: the same venue, the same stage, and three generations taking turns.

• Performances by the Piccolo Coro del Fiore Blu, featuring stories set to music
• Final recitals for the free guitar, drum, and piano courses
• Performance by the Polyphonic Choir of the Frattocchie Senior Center
• Games, creative workshops, and entertainment for children
• Convivial community dinner to close the day

An event that changes venue but keeps its spirit

Over the years, the festival has changed locations several times while remaining within the northern quadrant of the municipality. Historically, it was held at the Casa San Giuseppe on Via Appia Nuova 150 in Frattocchie, with the collaboration of the AGESCI Frattocchie 1 scout group. In 2026, the event moved to Santa Maria delle Mole, at the Appia Antica Regional Park Infopoint near the train station, thanks to a partnership with Legambiente Appia Sud il Riccio: a choice that added a guided tour along the Appia Antica to the program, blending music with the promotion of archaeological and natural heritage.

Music, school, and territory

The showcase is closely linked to the Spazio Giovani project, led by Marino Aperta APS in collaboration with the S. Maria delle Mole and Primo Levi comprehensive schools. Courses are held during the school year in the afternoons and are free of charge—a service that, in a populous and growing district like Frattocchie, represents a vital cultural anchor for hundreds of families. The final festival is therefore not just a recital, but the public culmination of an educational journey.

Why attend

Anyone visiting the Castelli Romani between late May and early June will find this festival an authentic opportunity to experience the neighborhood life of a Lazio town far from the usual tourist circuits. There are no big names on the bill or massive stages: just a community coming together with free admission, music played by local kids, and a shared dinner under the stars. It is the type of event that captures the essence of Italian cultural volunteering better than most.

Marino, famous throughout Italy for its October Grape Festival, offers a great reason to stop by in the spring as well: Frattocchie and Santa Maria delle Mole are easily accessible from Rome and allow visitors to combine the festival with a walk along the Appia Antica or a visit to the historic center of Marino.