Pontino Carnival (San Felice Circeo stage)

A traveling carnival in the heart of the Agro Pontino

The Pontino Carnival is a one-of-a-kind event in the Lazio region: it does not take place in just one city, but travels from square to square through the municipalities of the province of Latina. The handcrafted allegorical floats created by the Amici in Festa association parade on weekends between January and February, visiting Borgo Vodice, Borgo Montenero, Pontinia, Latina, Cisterna di Latina, Sabaudia, and San Felice Circeo, leading up to the grand finale on Shrove Tuesday. Each stop transforms the town center into a celebration of colors, music, confetti, and masks, with traditional frappe pastries serving as the delicious gastronomic soundtrack.

The San Felice Circeo stage

The parade in the municipality of San Felice Circeo is one of the most scenic moments of the entire circuit: the floats cross the town at the foot of the Circeo promontory, in the heart of the National Park, traveling through the streets of the center—over the years the procession has passed through Viale Tittoni, Via Sabaudia, and Via Roma—to conclude in Piazzale Kennedy, the terrace overlooking the sea that becomes a stage for dancing, choreography, and entertainment. The start is scheduled for the early afternoon, usually at 2:30 PM, and the festivities continue until sunset.

Allegorical floats and masked groups

The heart of the event is the allegorical floats handmade by the volunteers of Amici in Festa, with themes ranging from cinema and cartoons to pure fantasy. In the 2026 edition, twelve floats were featured, dedicated to Pirates of the Caribbean, Rio, Aladdin, Angels and Demons, Spongebob, Doraemon, The Simpsons, Tom & Jerry, the Circus, and the Mad Hatter, among others. Alongside the floats, masked groups, majorettes, dance schools, and local associations parade with themed choreography, while jugglers and street performers entertain children along the route.

A tradition that unites the Pontine communities

Born as a popular festival for the villages of the Agro Pontino, the Pontino Carnival has become an identity-defining event for the entire territory over the years: each municipality hosts its own parade, but the floats and participants are the same, creating an ideal colorful thread that stitches together the coast and the hinterland of the province of Latina. In San Felice Circeo, the stage enjoys the hospitality of the Municipality, which welcomes the caravan with traffic adjustments and great participation from families and visitors.

Why attend

• Parade of twelve handcrafted allegorical floats with cinema and cartoon themes
• Masked groups, majorettes, and choreography by local dance schools
• Entertainment for children with jugglers and street performers
• Unique setting between the village, the Circeo promontory, and the sea
• Free entry and festive atmosphere for the whole family

A Sunday—or Saturday—of pure popular fun in the most authentic Lazio, where the carnival is still a village festival made of hands, papier-mâché, and community.