La Corrida... Amateur Talent Show (Settefrati)

A hilarious Ferragosto evening

In the heart of summer, when the village fills with families, returning emigrants, and vacationers, Settefrati dedicates the evening of Ferragosto to 'La Corrida... Amateur Talent Show', a local entertainment spectacle inspired by the historic TV format made famous by Corrado. Non-professional contestants—singers, dancers, comedians, impressionists, and amateur talents—take the stage, ready to perform before an audience that, in keeping with the tradition of the format, delivers its verdict with applause or loud 'rejections'. The result is an evening of genuine fun, where self-irony counts for much more than perfection.

The format: amateurs on the spot

The mechanism is the same one that brought success to the show, which began on the radio in 1968 and later became a classic of Italian television: anyone can take the stage and try their luck with a song, a gag, a dance, or a variety act. The real star, however, is the audience, which participates noisily in the show and turns every performance—successful or not—into a collective celebration. In the squares of Italian towns, this format has become an unmissable appointment for summer festivities, and Settefrati is no exception.

At the heart of Settefrati's August festivities

The evening is part of the busy mid-August calendar of the town, one of the most intense moments of the year for the Settefrati community. According to the summer calendar of the Comino Valley, the 'Calata della Madonna' takes place on August 14th, the departure of the Madonna towards the Canneto Valley on August 18th, the Emigrant Festival on August 19th, and the historic Sagna and Beans Festival on August 20th, which reaches its 53rd edition in 2026. In this context of devotion, homecomings, and conviviality, the Corrida on August 15th represents the lightest and most lighthearted moment of the Ferragosto week.

Settefrati, a balcony over the upper Comino Valley

The Municipality of Settefrati, in the province of Frosinone, Lazio, is a village of ancient origins overlooking the upper Comino Valley, at the gates of the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park. The town, whose name traditionally derives from the 'Seven Brothers', preserves a medieval historic center with remains of ramparts and a 12th-13th century tower. It is best known for the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Canneto, at the springs of the Melfa River, a destination every summer for thousands of pilgrims from Lazio, Abruzzo, Molise, and Campania. In summer, the Comino Valley becomes a mosaic of food festivals, concerts, and patronal feasts that follow one another from village to village.

Why attend

The Corrida of Settefrati is the perfect opportunity to experience the authentic atmosphere of a Ciociaria village festival: no big productions, just the simple pleasure of laughing together, applauding the courage of those who put themselves out there, and sharing a summer evening in a mountain village. For those spending Ferragosto in the Comino Valley, it is an event that captures the most genuine spirit of the local community.