Saint Anthony of Padua Festival (Orte Scalo)
Eight days of faith, tradition, and star guests in the heart of Orte Scalo
About Saint Anthony Orte Scalo
A patronal festival that defines a community
In the municipality of Orte, in the province of Viterbo, the village of Orte Scalo celebrates its patron saint, Saint Anthony of Padua, every June. This is more than just a religious observance; it is the week when the entire community comes together to organize and participate. For eight consecutive days, life in the village revolves around Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII, located just steps from the train station, which transforms into a grand open-air stage.
The committee: a tradition passed down through generations
The unique aspect of the Orte Scalo festival lies in its organization. Each year, the baton is passed to a different age cohort: the Festival Committee brings together those born in the same year, who spend twelve months fundraising, seeking sponsors, and planning the program. In 2026, the Class of 1985 led the festivities in collaboration with the Municipality of Orte, the Pro Loco, and the Parish of Saints Giuseppe and Marco, while the Class of 1986 managed the food stall in preparation for taking the lead the following year. It is a simple yet powerful mechanism that keeps the festival vibrant across generations and involves all age groups.
The religious core: triduum, procession, and fireworks
The devotional aspect remains the anchor of the entire week. In the Church of Saint Anthony, a preparatory triduum is held in the days leading up to the feast, while a polyphonic choir concert fills the eve with sacred music. The most anticipated moment is the solemn procession through the village streets, accompanied by the «Città di Orte» Marching Band and concluded with a fireworks display that illuminates the Tiber Valley. The feast day begins at dawn with traditional salute shots and continues with the Solemn Holy Mass, presided over in 2026 by H.E. Bishop Marco Salvi, followed by the distribution of blessed bread.
Entertainment, music, and big names in the square
Beyond its religious dimension, the Orte Scalo festival has earned a reputation for bringing national talent to a provincial stage. Recent years have seen artists such as Dodi Battaglia and Donatella Rettore, the radio cast of Zoo di 105, comedians from Zelig and Colorado, and dance nights that last until the early hours. There is no shortage of «local» highlights: the Fashion Night, which showcases local shops, hairdressers, and artisans; performances by dance schools and the municipal music school; and book presentations dedicated to local history.
Sports, children, and community
- Tournaments and competitions: sport fishing at Lago del Sole, youth soccer tournaments, foosball, archery, and traditional games.
- Children: magic and bubble shows, baby dance, circus activities, and the Kids Zone at Parco Unità d'Italia.
- Motors: the vintage car and motorcycle rally, now in its twentieth year, which closes the event on Sunday morning.
- Solidarity: the blood donation day organized with the local AVIS branch.
Dining: the food stall
Every evening from 8:00 PM, the food stall set up by the committee serves traditional Tuscia dishes at affordable prices: homemade pasta, grilled meats, porchetta, and desserts, in a cozy village-dinner atmosphere under the tents. This is where the festival feels most authentic, with shared tables and volunteers of all ages working in the kitchen.
Why it's worth the trip
Orte Scalo is not a classic tourist destination, and that is precisely its charm: visitors in June find a genuine festival, created by locals for locals, where admission is free and everyone is welcome. Just a few kilometers away, the historic village of Orte offers a medieval center perched on tufa rock, churches, and a network of underground tunnels from the Etruscan and Roman eras—a perfect reason to turn a festival evening into a weekend getaway in northern Lazio.
Saint Anthony Orte Scalo — edition 2026
A rich edition for the patron saint of Orte Scalo
From June 7 to 14, 2026, Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII and the streets of Orte Scalo hosted one of the most comprehensive editions in recent years. The Class of 1985 Festival Committee created a program that alternated moments of devotion, national-level entertainment, and family activities, all strictly free of charge.
The religious thread ran from the preparatory triduum in the Church of Saint Anthony (June 9, 10, and 11 at 6:00 PM) to the solemn procession on Friday, June 12 at 9:00 PM, accompanied by the «Città di Orte» Marching Band and concluded with fireworks. On Saturday the 13th, the feast day, the day began at dawn with salute shots and culminated in the Solemn Holy Mass at 11:00 AM presided over by H.E. Bishop Marco Salvi, with the distribution of blessed bread.
On the entertainment side, the square hosted highly attended evenings: the Fashion Night on June 8, the Concert for Saint Anthony with the «Hortae» and «Amici della Musica» of Calvi polyphonic choirs conducted by maestro Filippo Proietti, the Zoo di 105 event on Thursday the 11th with Fabio Alisei, Paolo Noise, Pippo Palmieri, and Wender, the Disco Etrusco at midnight on the 12th, the comedy of Zelig and Colorado on Saturday the 13th, and the grand musical finale on Sunday the 14th with the Michael Jackson Tribute, followed by a light show by the Colonnelli company.
Programme Saint Anthony Orte Scalo 2026
Sunday, June 7
- 8:00 AM — Sport fishing competition at Lago del Sole
- 4:00 PM — PlayStation tournament at the Senior Center
- 8:30 PM — Youth soccer tournament finals
Monday, June 8
- 12:00 PM — Opening salute shots
- 6:30 PM — Dance performance by AZUCAR asd
- 8:00 PM — Food stall opening by the Class of 1986 (every evening until the 14th)
- 9:30 PM — Fashion Night, fashion show in Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII
Tuesday, June 9
- 5:30 PM — «Magic and Bubble Show» for children
- 6:00 PM — Presentation of the book «Memorie Francescane in Orte» by Alessandro Camilli
- 6:00 PM — Preparatory triduum at the Church of Saint Anthony
- 6:00 PM — Municipal Music School performance
- 9:00 PM — Live music with local bands
Wednesday, June 10
- 4:00 PM — Archery demonstration
- 6:00 PM — Sports activities at the «4You Wellness» center
- 6:00 PM — Preparatory triduum
- 9:00 PM — Concert for Saint Anthony: «Hortae» and «Amici della Musica» of Calvi polyphonic choirs, conductor Filippo Proietti (Church of Saint Anthony)
Thursday, June 11
- 5:30 PM — Evolution Ballet performance
- 5:30 PM — Conference on the reprint of «Curiosità Ortane»
- 6:00 PM — Preparatory triduum
- 9:45 PM — Zoo di 105 with Fabio Alisei, Paolo Noise, Pippo Palmieri, and Wender; warm-up set by Alessio Ibiza
Friday, June 12
- 7:00 PM — Youth soccer tournament awards ceremony
- 9:00 PM — Solemn procession with the «Città di Orte» Marching Band, followed by fireworks
- 9:45 PM — Dance night with Samuele Biribicchi
- 12:00 AM — Disco Etrusco: Italian and international disco, funk, and rarities
Saturday, June 13 — Patron Saint's Day
- Dawn — Salute shots
- 8:30 AM — Blood donation day with AVIS
- 9:00 AM — Holy Mass at the Church of Madonna della Sanità
- 11:00 AM — Solemn Holy Mass presided over by H.E. Bishop Marco Salvi
- 5:00 PM-7:00 PM — Baby dance, entertainment, and circus activities for children
- 6:00 PM — Holy Mass and distribution of blessed bread
- 9:30 PM — Comedy night with stars from Zelig and Colorado
Sunday, June 14
- 10:00 AM — 23rd vintage car and motorcycle rally
- 10:00 AM — Kids Zone at Parco Unità d'Italia
- 4:30 PM — Foosball tournament
- 5:00 PM — Traditional games and sword competition
- 7:00 PM — Grand raffle with a 1,500 euro prize pool
- 9:30 PM — Michael Jackson Tribute, grand musical finale
- 11:00 PM — Saint Anthony Lottery draw and handover to the Class of 1986
- 12:00 AM — Final light show by the Colonnelli company
Highlights Saint Anthony Orte Scalo 2026
- Solemn procession on June 12 with the «Città di Orte» Band and fireworks over the Tiber Valley
- Zoo di 105 in the square on Thursday, June 11
- Zelig and Colorado: Saturday comedy night, traditionally the most crowded
- Concert for Saint Anthony with polyphonic choirs
- Fashion Night, showcasing local shops and artisans
- 23rd vintage car and motorcycle rally and Kids Zone
- Food stall open every evening from 8:00 PM
Prices Saint Anthony Orte Scalo 2026
Practical information — Saint Anthony Orte Scalo
Getting there
Orte Scalo is served by Orte station, one of the main railway hubs in Lazio: regional trains and Intercity trains on the Rome-Florence line stop here, with direct connections from Rome Termini in about an hour. The festival square is a few minutes' walk from the station. By car: take the Orte exit on the A1 Milan-Naples motorway, then follow signs for Orte Scalo. Free parking is available in nearby streets; arriving early is recommended on nights with major guest performers.
Admission and prices
All events are free of charge, including concerts and shows. Only food at the stalls and Saint Anthony lottery tickets require payment.
Tips
Evenings end late at night: those arriving by train should check the last connections. For accommodation, in addition to facilities in Orte, Viterbo, Narni, and Civita Castellana are convenient options, all within a half-hour drive.
Information
Updates and the full program are available on the Festival Committee's social media channels: Instagram and Facebook @comitato_classe_1985_orte.
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Where does it take place — Saint Anthony Orte Scalo
Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII, Orte Scalo
Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII, 01028 Orte