Montefiascone Carnival
Floats, costumed groups, and confetti in the heart of the Viterbo Tuscia region
About Montefiascone Carnival
The Carnival of the 'Est! Est!! Est!!!' village!
Overlooking Lake Bolsena in the heart of the Viterbo Tuscia region, the town of Montefiascone is famous throughout Italy for its 'Est! Est!! Est!!!' wine and its Papal Fortress (Rocca dei Papi). But for the locals, February means one thing above all: the Montefiascone Carnival, a popular festival that has enlivened the historic center for decades with floats, masks, and music.
A tradition built by the community
What makes this Carnival special is its deeply collective spirit. The floats aren't brought in from elsewhere; they are designed and built in local workshops during the cold winter evenings by volunteers and young people who work for weeks without pay. This model has made Montefiascone one of the most beautiful Carnivals in the Viterbo province, though it depends entirely on community participation.
The Parade
In years with floats, the procession gathers at the Via Cardinal Salotti square, travels along Via Aldo Moro and Via Dante Alighieri, and concludes at Piazzale Roma. Between the floats, masked groups perform choreographed routines, joined by majorette troupes invited from neighboring towns. The most popular editions have featured seven floats and over five hundred participants, with themes ranging from children's cinema to mythology, and Formula 1 to Vikings.
A family-friendly event
The Montefiascone Carnival is designed with children in mind: admission is free, and there are plenty of food stalls and rest areas along the route. The Golden Mask (Mascherina d'oro) competition rewards the most original children's costumes; participants take the stage and are shown on a giant screen before the afternoon awards ceremony. Confetti, streamers, and music keep the party going until evening.
Organizers
The event is managed by the Pro Loco Montefiascone APS and the Associazione Carnevale Montefiasconese APS/ETS, with the patronage of the Municipality of Montefiascone and the support of the Province of Viterbo. In recent years, however, float construction has faced growing challenges: in 2026, the association had to cancel the parades due to low participation, replacing them with an afternoon of entertainment, and has set its sights on 2027 with the goal of restoring a truly shared project.
What to see in Montefiascone
Visitors coming for the Carnival can take the opportunity to explore the village: the Rocca dei Papi with its panoramic view of Lake Bolsena, the Basilica of San Flaviano—home to the tomb of the prelate Johannes Defuk, linked to the legend of 'Est! Est!! Est!!!'—and the local wineries. Montefiascone is located in northern Lazio, just over twenty kilometers from Viterbo, and is a classic stop on the Via Francigena.
Montefiascone Carnival — edition 2026
A Carnival without floats, but not without a party
The 2026 edition of the Montefiascone Carnival will be remembered as a year of transition. In mid-January, the Montefiascone Carnival Association announced that there would be no traditional allegorical float parades: despite repeated appeals to the public, the conditions for building the floats—a task requiring months of volunteer work—could not be met. «The Carnival is a collective project and requires the participation of the entire community», the organizers explained, setting the new date for 2027.
To ensure the town wasn't left without a Carnival, the Pro Loco Association of Montefiascone, together with the municipal administration, organized a substitute event in the square on Sunday, February 15, 2026, starting at 3:00 PM. The highlight of the day was the 2026 Golden Mask (Mascherina d'oro) competition: children in costume took the stage, were filmed on a giant screen, and the winners were announced at 6:00 PM.
Food stalls and rest areas allowed families to participate in a comfortable and relaxed manner, during an afternoon of music, confetti, and free entertainment.
Programme Montefiascone Carnival 2026
Sunday, February 15, 2026 — Montefiascone Square
- 3:00 PM — Opening of the Carnival party in the square: music, entertainment, and confetti for children and families
- Afternoon — 2026 Golden Mask competition: costume parade on stage with giant screen broadcast
- 6:00 PM — Announcement of the Golden Mask competition winners
Food stalls and rest areas for families are available throughout the afternoon.
Note: The allegorical float and masked group parades did not take place in 2026 and are postponed to the 2027 edition.
Highlights Montefiascone Carnival 2026
- 2026 Golden Mask competition for children's costumes, with stage and giant screen
- Afternoon of entertainment and music in the square starting at 3:00 PM
- Awards ceremony at 6:00 PM
- Free admission, food stalls, and rest areas for families
- Edition without allegorical floats: parades are postponed to the 2027 Carnival
Prices Montefiascone Carnival 2026
Practical information — Montefiascone Carnival
How to get there
By car: Take the A1 motorway to the Orte exit, then the Orte-Viterbo expressway and the SS Cassia towards Lake Bolsena; from Rome, it takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. By train: Take the train to Viterbo station (lines from Rome Ostiense and Rome Piazzale Flaminio), then a Cotral bus to Montefiascone, approximately 30 minutes.
Admission and times
Admission is free. Parades and entertainment usually take place in the afternoon, generally starting at 3:00 PM.
Tips
Arrive early: on parade days, the town center is closed to traffic and parking fills up quickly. Bring confetti and costumes, especially if you are coming with children, and dress warmly as the festival takes place outdoors in the middle of February.
Information
Contact the Pro Loco Montefiascone APS via their social media channels or visit the Municipality of Montefiascone website.
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Where does it take place — Montefiascone Carnival
Centro storico e Piazzale Roma
Largo del Plebiscito 1, 01027 Montefiascone