Ostia Ponente and Acilia Carnival

A neighborhood Carnival in the heart of Municipio X

The Ostia Ponente and Acilia Carnival is the masquerade celebration that brings life every winter to two districts of Rome's Municipio X, in the Lazio region: Ostia Ponente, overlooking the Tyrrhenian coast, and Acilia, located inland between the Via Ostiense and the Roman countryside. This is not a historical carnival with monumental floats, but a grassroots festival designed for local families, where the street becomes a stage and a meeting place.

Two simultaneous parades

The format chosen by the municipality is that of a double parade: two distinct processions set off on the same afternoon, one on the coastal side and one inland, so that residents of both districts can celebrate without having to travel. The streets involved are closed to traffic for the occasion, and the processions move at a leisurely pace, with scheduled stops where artists perform for the public.

• Ostia Ponente — starting from Via della Martinica, then Via del Sommergibile and Via Guido Vincon, arriving at Piazza Gasparri.
• Acilia — starting and ending at Largo San Giorgio, along Via Gino Bonichi, Via Gaetano Previati, Via Domenico Morelli, Via di Macchia Saponara, Via Amedeo Bocchi, Via di Saponara, and Via Alberto Galli.

What to expect on the streets

The program is entrusted to street artists and entertainment troupes: performers, dancers, jugglers, and roaming artists accompany the procession, stopping at designated points along the route for short shows. There is no shortage of confetti, streamers, music, stilt walkers, and costumed participants. The involvement of schools, neighborhood committees, and local associations is the true backbone of the event: many costumed groups are born directly from school workshops and local community organizations.

A festival for children and families

The afternoon schedule and the manageable duration make the event particularly suitable for younger children. Children in costume are the absolute stars: they parade with their parents, participate in games organized by entertainers, and receive confetti and traditional seasonal sweets, such as frappe (or chiacchiere) and castagnole, which appear in the bakeries and pastry shops of both districts in the weeks leading up to the event.

The context: Ostia, Acilia, and the Roman coast

Municipio X is the largest in Rome and encompasses the entire coastline of the Municipality of Rome, from the archaeological excavations of Ostia Antica to the beaches of Ostia Lido, and the residential districts of Acilia, Casal Palocco, and Infernetto. It is a highly populated area where neighborhood festivals have strong social value: bringing people back into the squares and streets is one of the event's stated goals. The Carnival is part of a winter calendar that includes other masquerade initiatives organized along the seafront and in individual neighborhoods.

How to make the most of the day

It is advisable to arrive a few minutes before the start to position yourself along the route or at the designated stops where the performances are concentrated. Admission is free, and no registration is required to participate in costume: simply show up at the meeting point. Those arriving from outside the area can combine the visit with a stroll along the Ostia seafront or a stop at the Ostia Antica Archaeological Park, just a few minutes away by train.