Saint Anthony Abbot Festival, Focarone Bonfire and Nepesino Carnival

A festival that kicks off the Tuscia Carnival

Every year in mid-January, the town of Nepi (in the province of Viterbo, Lazio) transforms into the capital of Tuscia's folk traditions. The Saint Anthony Abbot Festival is more than just a religious observance: it is the moment the town reconnects with its rural roots and officially launches the Nepesino Carnival, one of the longest-running and most cherished carnival celebrations in Lazio, reaching its 84th edition in 2026.

The focarone, the heart of the festival

The absolute symbol of the festival is the focarone, the massive bonfire raised in the historic center that typically exceeds eight meters in height. In ancient times, the wood was transported by oxen, and its lighting marked the end of the harshest winter days; even today, the lighting draws thousands of people who gather around the flames as smoke rises above the village rooftops. It is a collective, simple, and powerful ritual, accompanied by the distribution of traditional carnival sweets and wine from local cellars.

The blessing of animals and the procession

Saint Anthony Abbot is the patron saint of animals and the rural world; for this reason, the Nepi festival preserves the blessing of animals and agricultural equipment, with harnessed horses, riders, tractors, and industrial machinery parading before the church. In the late afternoon, the procession departs from the church and travels through the streets of the center, accompanied by the band and the participation of the Pia Unione Sant'Antonio Abate, the association that has organized the festivities for generations.

The Agricultural Machinery Fair

Alongside the religious festival, the historic Agricultural and Industrial Machinery Fair takes place, an event eagerly awaited by farmers, technicians, and enthusiasts from all over Upper Lazio. Tractors, equipment, field-working machinery, and commercial stands occupy the designated areas for several days, making Nepi a concrete meeting point for the local agricultural economy.

The Grand Parade and allegorical floats

Sunday brings the most anticipated moment: the Grand Parade of the Nepesino Carnival. Allegorical floats, built in the preceding months by the town's carnival groups, parade along the city route together with masked groups, marching bands, and folk ensembles. Confetti, music, and papier-mâché figures transform the historic center into an open-air theater, with a second parade closing the festivities during the Shrove Tuesday period.

Nepi, a village to discover

Those who arrive for the festival find much more than just a parade. Nepi is a village of Faliscan origin surrounded by ravines and streams, famous for its Borgia Fortress, its aqueduct, and the mineral waters that bear its name. The cellars carved into the tuff, the local gastronomy, and the proximity to Civita Castellana, Sutri, and Lake Bracciano make the festival day the perfect occasion for a weekend in the Viterbo Tuscia area.

An atmosphere for everyone

• Free admission to all street events
• Event suitable for families and children
• Traditional carnival sweets and local products at the stands
• Strong popular participation: it is advisable to arrive early

Between devotion, fire, masks, and rural tradition, the Saint Anthony Abbot Festival in Nepi remains one of the most authentic winter events in Lazio.