Night of Smiles - The Sharing Festival

A square that becomes a festival of sharing

The Night of Smiles - The Sharing Festival is the annual summer event that lights up Piazza Antonino Conti, the heart of the historic center of Pico, a town in the province of Frosinone, in southern Lazio. It is not just an open-air concert; it is an evening built around a clear vision: using music to serve solidarity, turning the square into a place where local associations can share their stories and find concrete support.

The initiative is promoted by the Nuova Onda Generazionale association, which has developed a well-established and recognizable format over the years, capable of attracting audiences from across the Ciociaria region and the nearby Valle di Comino. The event is held under the patronage of the Lazio Region and the Municipality of Pico, in collaboration with Piu Race and Dream Produzioni.

Music, testimonies, and social commitment

The structure of the evening alternates between three different elements that blend seamlessly. There is the live concert, featuring artists from the Italian music scene, with a show designed for a broad, intergenerational audience. Then there are the testimonies: stories of Paralympic sports and overcome obstacles, told directly on stage by those who lived them, giving the evening a depth that goes far beyond simple entertainment.

Surrounding the stage are the solidarity booths of foundations and associations active in the fields of disability, health prevention, and social promotion: a space where attendees can learn, talk to volunteers, and contribute to the fundraising efforts for ongoing projects. This is where the festival expresses its most authentic vocation: serving as a showcase for the third sector in the province.

The food area and the atmosphere

• Gastronomic area set up in the square, with options designed for families and groups of friends
• Free admission, no reservation or ticket required
• Evening format, starting after sunset and continuing late into the night
• Local media coverage with interviews and live broadcasts

The atmosphere is the typical Ciociarian one of summer village festivals: informal, festive, with families sitting at tables, young people gathering under the stage, and conversations continuing under the stars long after the concert ends. The difference, compared to any other party, is that every euro spent and every smile gathered has a clear purpose.

Pico and the Ciociaria region

Pico is a village of just over three thousand inhabitants perched between the Ausoni Mountains and the Liri Valley, in a border area between the province of Frosinone and lower Lazio towards Campania. The town, known as the birthplace of the family of writer Tommaso Landolfi, preserves a compact historic layout with stone alleys and glimpses of the surrounding countryside. Piazza Antonino Conti is the public space where the community naturally gathers, which explains why the festival has found its ideal home there.

Visitors from outside the area can take advantage of the evening to discover the region: the olive-covered hills, the typical products of the Ciociaria, and the proximity to the Abbey of Montecassino and the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise. In this sense, the Night of Smiles is also an opportunity to showcase a corner of Lazio that remains off the beaten tourist path.

Why attend

The festival is designed for those looking for a summer evening that goes beyond pure entertainment. The formula works because it is inclusive: you can come for the concert and discover the work of the associations along the way, or come to support a cause and enjoy the music as a natural consequence. It is a family-friendly, accessible, and free event deeply rooted in the community that organizes it.