Notte Bianca in Allegria (Santa Maria delle Mole)

A White Night born from local commerce

The Notte Bianca in Allegria is the most anticipated event of the year in Santa Maria delle Mole, the most populous district of the Municipality of Marino, in the province of Rome, in the heart of the Castelli Romani. Born from the initiative of local merchants united in the UCF Marino, the event celebrated its thirteenth edition in 2025 and has become a late-summer ritual for families in the Castelli area and the southern districts of the Capital.

The concept is simple and successful: for one evening, the entire town stays awake. Shop shutters remain up, streets fill with stalls and stages, and traffic gives way to pedestrians. The result is a town festival on an urban scale, where the promotion of local commerce blends with popular entertainment.

The squares and festival routes

The event unfolds along the main streets of the district, with multiple performance areas operating simultaneously:

• Piazza Palmiro Togliatti — the main stage, the beating heart of the evening, where concerts and DJ sets keep the crowd dancing until late at night.
• Piazza Sandro Sciotti — a second musical area, featuring shows and entertainment.
• Via Silvio Pellico and Via Pietro Maroncelli — craft stalls, street food, and street performers.
• Viale della Repubblica — fairground rides, children's entertainment, and association stands.

Music, shows, and local tradition

The artistic and musical program is traditionally entrusted to a mix of cover bands, 80s and 90s tribute shows, singer-songwriters, and local artists, with presenters guiding the audience from one stage to another. Recent editions have featured revival DJ sets, groups like 90 Mania, local rappers from the Castelli, and regional singers and bands.

Alongside pop music, the festival highlights its local identity: the «Volemose Bene» Musical Band of Marino, flag-wavers, performances by local dance schools, and sports and cultural associations presenting their activities to the public.

Street food and food & wine stalls

The gastronomic side is managed by food and wine stalls and food trucks occupying the town center: Castelli porchetta, fried snacks, sandwiches, sweets, and craft beer, alongside local establishments that extend their service until late at night. The wine of the Castelli Romani, and specifically that of Marino, remains the common thread of every local festival.

A prelude to the Grape Festival

The Notte Bianca in Allegria takes its place in the September calendar as the ideal opening to the season of Marino festivals: a few days later, the municipal capital celebrates the historic Grape Festival (Sagra dell'Uva), the oldest festival of its kind in Italy. Visitors to the Castelli Romani during this period can combine the two events and discover the local heritage: the historic center of Marino, Lake Albano, Castel Gandolfo, and the Appian Way, all reachable within a few kilometers.

A free festival for everyone

Admission is free and open to all areas of the event. The festival is designed for an intergenerational audience: entertainment and rides for children in the early evening, live music and dancing for adults in the latter part of the night. It is organized by UCF Marino in collaboration with AP Eventi by Andrea Paciotti and Spettacolissimo by Donato Lauri, with the contribution of the Municipality of Marino and the patronage of the Lazio Regional Council.