Ladispoli Carnival (Carnival Street Band)
The carnival parade that turns Viale Italia into an open-air stage
About Ladispoli Carnival
A seaside carnival, just a stone's throw from Rome
Ladispoli, a seaside town on the northern coast of the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in Lazio, celebrates Carnival with a formula that suits it perfectly: open, popular, and just the right amount of loud. It is not a carnival of grand stands or paid tickets, but a street party that takes over the city's main artery — Viale Italia — and hands it over for a few hours to revelers, bands, and children.
The starting point is almost always the same: the station square, the gateway through which Ladispoli connects to Rome and the surrounding area. From there, the procession sets off and travels through the urban center to the main squares, where the festivities dissolve into music, dancing, and entertainment.
From float parades to the Carnival Street Band
For years, the Ladispoli Carnival featured the classic look of allegorical float parades, with masked groups, children's processions, and vintage cars closing the parade. In 2026, the municipal administration decided to change pace, focusing on an entirely musical format: the Carnival Street Band, a parade of roving bands organized with the Cantieri Etnici association and included in the international street band festival "Via Di Banda".
The result is a carnival that you don't just watch, but follow on foot: the musical groups move along the avenue and the audience walks with them, mingling with the procession. Schools, associations, and individual citizens can join the parade by choosing their own costume theme.
What to see and hear
- La Ferrosa, the historic Ladispoli town band, which traditionally opens the procession;
- Street bands with thematic repertoires, from cartoon theme songs to funky and disco sounds;
- Masked groups, local schools, and associations in costume;
- Entertainment for children, confetti, and streamers along the entire route;
- Closing party in the square with music and dancing.
An event designed for families
The tone is decidedly family-oriented. The Tourism Department of the Municipality of Ladispoli has built the format around children, without forgetting the adults: the parade is free, takes place in the early afternoon, and crosses streets closed to traffic, ensuring safety for an audience that counts hundreds of families every year, many coming from nearby coastal towns like Cerveteri, Santa Marinella, Cerenova, and Fiumicino.
The carnival in the Ladispoli calendar
The Carnival effectively kicks off the city's event season, which continues in spring with the famous Romanesco Artichoke Festival, the event that made Ladispoli known far beyond the borders of Lazio, and in summer with the performance series in Piazza Rossellini. For those visiting the coast in February or March, the carnival parade is the easiest way to see the city alive off-season, when the promenade is deserted but the center is bustling.
When to go
The date changes every year as it follows the mobile Carnival calendar: it usually falls between mid-February and early March, always on a Sunday afternoon. It is advisable to check the Municipality's announcements in the preceding weeks, as the route and times may be updated along with traffic ordinances.
Ladispoli Carnival — edition 2026
The parade of February 15, 2026
The 2026 edition marked a turning point for the Ladispoli Carnival. The municipal administration, with the Councilor for Tourism Marco Porro, announced as early as January the desire to "propose something different from the past," and the choice fell on a musical street parade entrusted to the Cantieri Etnici association, which specializes in band processions.
The procession moved from Piazzale Roma, in front of the station, at 4:00 PM, to cross Viale Italia and conclude in Piazza Rossellini. The parade was opened by La Ferrosa, the historic town band, followed by three street bands with distinct artistic identities.
The bands in the parade
- La Ferrosa — civic band of Ladispoli, opening the procession;
- Miwa Cartoon Street Band — repertoire inspired by the world of cartoons;
- Lesto Funky — 90s disco dance vibes;
- Cambria Funky Style — vintage funky sounds;
- Debby Roller Team — closing the parade.
City participation
Schools, associations, and citizens were able to join the procession by choosing their own costume theme, creating thematic sections along the route. Viale Italia and Piazza Rossellini were transformed into an open-air stage that welcomed hundreds of families and visitors from neighboring towns. After the party, Councilor Porro commented: "Ladispoli responded very well, I was sure this format would work."
Programme Ladispoli Carnival 2026
Sunday, February 15, 2026
- 16:00 — Start of the procession from Piazzale Roma (station square), with the opening entrusted to the town band La Ferrosa.
- Parade along Viale Italia, transformed into an open-air stage, with the street bands Miwa Cartoon Street Band (cartoon music), Lesto Funky ('90s disco dance), and Cambria Funky Style (vintage funky).
- Thematic sections open to schools, associations, and citizens in costume.
- Closing of the parade entrusted to the Debby Roller Team.
- Arrival in Piazza Rossellini, where the party continued with music and entertainment.
During the afternoon, traffic closures and parking bans were in effect along Viale Italia and surrounding streets.
Highlights Ladispoli Carnival 2026
- New 2026 format: street band parade instead of allegorical floats.
- Four musical groups plus the historic band La Ferrosa opening the event.
- Event included in the 12th edition of the traveling festival "Via Di Banda".
- Urban route from Piazzale Roma to Piazza Rossellini, along Viale Italia.
- Free participation for schools, associations, and citizens in costume.
Prices Ladispoli Carnival 2026
Practical information — Ladispoli Carnival
How to get there
By train: The Ladispoli-Cerveteri station is served by the FL5 Rome Termini–Civitavecchia line; the travel time from Rome is about 40 minutes. The parade starts just a few meters from the station, making the train the most convenient way to arrive.
By car: Take the Ladispoli–Cerveteri exit from the SS1 Aurelia or the A12 Rome–Civitavecchia motorway. On the day of the parade, Viale Italia and surrounding streets are closed to traffic, with parking bans in effect for the entire afternoon: it is best to park in peripheral areas and reach the center on foot.
Tickets
Admission is free and open to all: no tickets or reservations are required.
Tips
- Arrive a little early before the start time to find a good spot along the avenue.
- Dress in layers: in February, the coastal wind can be biting even when it's sunny.
- For those coming with children, the final stretch towards the square is the most suitable, with less crowding and more space.
- The center offers bars and pastry shops where you can find frappe and castagnole, the traditional carnival sweets of the Lazio region.
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Where does it take place — Ladispoli Carnival
Viale Italia e Piazza Rossellini
Viale Italia, 00055 Ladispoli