One M Fest
The May Day celebration in Isola del Liri featuring music, street food, and visual arts
About One M Fest
A different kind of May Day, at the foot of the waterfall
One M Fest is the festival that brings May 1st to life in Isola del Liri, in the province of Frosinone, in the heart of the Ciociaria region. The setting is what makes the town famous throughout the Lazio region: the Great Waterfall, which plunges some twenty meters right into the town center—a unique feature in Italy due to its urban location. Around it, along Via della Cascata and the streets of the historic center, stages, stalls, and installations are set up for a day that begins at noon and continues until late at night.
Music, art, and labor in one day
The festival's formula is explicitly multidisciplinary: live music, DJ sets, street food, and visual arts coexist seamlessly. The morning is dedicated to the civil aspect of Labor Day, with a union parade that crosses the town followed by a closing rally; from early afternoon, the city shifts gears and the spotlight turns to music. This dual soul—social advocacy and popular celebration—is what distinguishes One M Fest from typical May Day concerts.
A program focused on reggae and the independent scene
The editions have been built around historic names in Italian protest music and popular roots: groups hailing from reggae, raggamuffin, rap, and protest song traditions, joined by emerging local bands and local selectas. The main stage, at the end of the day, hosts the national headliner, while shorter sets are distributed among various stations in the center throughout the afternoon.
- Concerts from early afternoon until late at night
- DJ sets and selectas between live performances
- Exhibitions, installations, video mapping, and live painting along the route
- Street performers and roving acts
- Food stalls, craft markets, and beer stations
Street food and markets
The culinary side is managed by a street food area with offerings ranging from traditional Ciociaria dishes to contemporary street food, accompanied by a dedicated beer station. Alongside the food stalls, there are craft markets and artist exhibitions, which remain open for the duration of the event.
Isola del Liri, the city on the water
Visiting One M Fest is also an opportunity to discover a town that has few equals in Lazio. Isola del Liri literally stands on an island formed by the splitting of the Liri River, dominated by the Boncompagni-Viscogliosi Castle, which overlooks the waterfall. The town preserves the industrial memory of 19th-century paper mills that once harnessed the river's power and are now part of the urban landscape. In spring, with the Liri's flow still abundant, the waterfall offers the most spectacular sight of the year.
An event for everyone
Admission is free and the entire event takes place outdoors in the pedestrianized areas of the center: it is a family-friendly event during the day and geared towards a younger audience in the evening. Participation draws visitors from across the province of Frosinone and the nearby areas of the Comino Valley, the Cassino area, and lower Lazio, as well as from southern Abruzzo.
One M Fest — edition 2026
One M Fest 2026 — the fourth edition
The 2026 edition of One M Fest was held on Friday, May 1, 2026, in Isola del Liri, in the province of Frosinone, confirming the formula that alternates the civil morning with the long musical celebration of the afternoon and evening.
The morning: the May Day parade
The day began at 9 AM with the Labor Day parade, which crossed the town's streets with municipal banners, mayors wearing tricolor sashes, trade union organizations, the President of the Province, political parties, and labor world associations. The chosen theme focused on dignified work, collective bargaining, and new protections in the age of artificial intelligence. The parade concluded in Piazza SS. Triade, where Maria Annunziata Veltri gave the final speech for the CISL union.
The afternoon and evening: music, art, and street food
From 12:30 PM, stalls opened along Via della Cascata: street food, craft beer, markets, exhibitions, installations, and street performers accompanied a continuous musical program.
The grand finale with Sud Sound System
The closing was entrusted to Sud Sound System, pioneers of reggae and raggamuffin in Italy, engaged in the special tour for their 35th anniversary of activity. Admission was free throughout the day.
Programme One M Fest 2026
Friday, May 1, 2026
- 9:00 AM — May Day parade through the streets of Isola del Liri, arriving at Piazza SS. Triade
- Following — Closing speech by Maria Annunziata Veltri (CISL)
- From 12:30 PM — Opening of One M Fest on Via della Cascata: street food, beer station, markets, exhibitions, installations, street art, and street performers
- From early afternoon — Successive performances and live sets: PPD Selecta, Original Slammer Band, Famadub, Enrico Capuano e Tammurriata Rock, Jovine, Nicola Caso, Andrea Tartaglia (99 Posse)
- In the evening — Closing concert by Sud Sound System, 35th anniversary tour
Highlights One M Fest 2026
- Closing performance by Sud Sound System on their 35th anniversary tour
- Presence of Andrea Tartaglia of 99 Posse and Jovine
- Enrico Capuano e Tammurriata Rock, blending rock and folk music
- May Day parade and rally in Piazza SS. Triade
- Street food area, craft beer, and markets along Via della Cascata
- Visual arts, installations, and street art spread throughout the historic center
Prices One M Fest 2026
Practical information — One M Fest
How to get there
By car: A1 Rome-Naples motorway, exit at Frosinone or Pontecorvo-Castrocielo, then take the Sora-Frosinone expressway towards Isola del Liri. By train: Isola del Liri station on the Roccasecca-Avezzano line, or Frosinone station followed by a bus connection. Nearest airports: Rome Ciampino and Rome Fiumicino.
Admission and hours
Free admission. Stalls and the first performances open around 12:30 PM, with musical programming continuing until late at night.
Tips
The historic center is closed to traffic during the event: it is best to leave your car in the peripheral parking lots and reach Via della Cascata on foot. Comfortable shoes and layered clothing are recommended, as early May evenings can be cool. The waterfall area is very popular: to photograph it without the crowds, it is best to arrive in the morning.
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Where does it take place — One M Fest
Via della Cascata e centro storico
Via della Cascata, 03036 Isola del Liri