Madonnetta Winter Festival

A neighborhood festival in the green heart of Acilia

The Madonnetta Winter Festival was launched as a year-end event by Municipio X of Rome Capital to bring life to one of the Roman coastline's green lungs: the Parco della Madonnetta. Spanning twenty-one hectares of meadows, pine forests, and sports facilities, the park sits in Acilia between Via di Acilia and Via di Saponara. For one full day, the park—usually frequented by joggers, dog walkers, and families—becomes an open-air square complete with a stage, inflatables, and stalls.

The event format

The festival follows the classic structure of Roman neighborhood celebrations, with a schedule designed to keep the whole family entertained from morning to night:

• Morning and early afternoon: Activities for children, including bouncy castles, face painting, games, and magic shows.
• Arrival of the Befana: An unmissable appointment in the Lazio Christmas calendar, featuring the distribution of sweets.
• Afternoon: Entertainment show with singers, comedians, and live hosting.
• Evening: The main concert, featuring a nationally renowned artist or band.

Admission is free and no booking is required. The festival is designed as a service to the local community—specifically the areas of Acilia, Dragona, and Dragoncello—which hosts a wider calendar of events across the parks, squares, and stations of Municipio X during the holiday season.

The inaugural edition, December 2025

The first documented edition took place on Sunday, December 28, 2025. The program opened at 10:00 AM with the children's area, continued at 3:30 PM with the entertainment show, and concluded at 6:00 PM with a concert by Paolo Belli and his Big Band, one of the most familiar faces in Italian light music and television, and founder of the band Ladri di Biciclette. Technical organization was managed by the company Evoco srls on behalf of Municipio X.

A debated event

The event sparked local debate. The Ecoitaliasolidale association and several residents questioned the decision to allocate over sixty-five thousand euros to a single day of performances while the park continues to struggle with lighting, maintenance, and security issues; opposition councilors have requested clarification on the procurement process. This discussion reflects the reality of contemporary Roman suburbs, where the demand for social cohesion and the need for public space maintenance go hand in hand. Meanwhile, Rome Capital has announced resources for the area's redevelopment for the 2026-2028 period.

Why visit

Visitors in Rome between Christmas and Epiphany will find a less touristy, highly authentic side of the city here: no postcard-perfect Christmas markets, but a genuine neighborhood festival organized by the Municipality of Rome, in Lazio, featuring local families, live music, and the tradition of the Befana. Furthermore, the Parco della Madonnetta is a place dear to the people of Acilia, frequently cited as one of the FAI 'Places of the Heart'.