Goat Festival

A festival born from an ancient fair

The Goat Festival in Sonnino Scalo has roots that go far deeper than the event itself: it stems from the Livestock and Goods Fair, also known as the "Station Fair," which once stretched along the road by the Amaseno River. Here, farmers and shepherds from the Lepini Mountains would gather to trade livestock, tools, and local produce. As agriculture shifted in the local economy, the fair evolved over the decades into a lively popular festival, adopting the name Goat Festival and finding its permanent home in the town square of Sonnino Scalo, the hamlet located in the valley below the main village.

Sonnino-style stewed goat

The absolute star of the festival is the Sonnino-style stewed goat: tender, flavorful, and lean meat, slow-cooked with tomatoes and local herbs according to traditional peasant recipes. Goat has always been a symbol of this rugged, mountainous land, where goat farming was a vital resource for families for centuries. At the food stalls, this signature dish is served alongside grilled meats, rustic side dishes, homemade bread, and wines from the Lepini Mountains.

Four evenings of festivities in the square

The event traditionally takes place from Wednesday to Saturday during the last week of August, with food stalls opening every evening at 6:00 PM. The square is filled with stalls offering a variety of goods—a direct legacy of the ancient fair—alongside craft markets, children's rides, and traditional games. Each evening features free concerts, with tribute bands and live music turning the square into a vibrant community celebration open to all.

Sonnino and the Amaseno Valley

The Municipality of Sonnino, in the province of Latina, is a medieval village perched on the Lepini Mountains in southern Lazio, famous for its stone alleys and enduring folk traditions. The hamlet of Sonnino Scalo, which developed on the plains along the railway and the Amaseno River, is now the beating heart of the festival: a place where the memory of the Lepini peasant civilization meets the conviviality of a summer celebration. Attending the festival is also the perfect opportunity to head up to the historic center of Sonnino and discover one of the most charming villages in the Lazio region.

An event hosted by the Pro Loco

The Goat Festival is promoted by the Pro Loco Tourist Association of Sonnino APS in collaboration with the Pegaso Association, with the active involvement of the local community. Admission is free: you only pay for what you consume at the stalls, in the most authentic spirit of the village festivals of southern Lazio.