Saint John the Baptist Festival
The patronal feast of Formia featuring a sea procession, concerts, and the Saint John Fireworks
About Saint John the Baptist
The patron saint of Formia and its seafaring people
In the calendar of Formia, a city on the Gulf of Gaeta in the province of Latina, there is no date more cherished than June 24th. The Saint John the Baptist Festival celebrates the city's patron and protector of fishermen with a series of rituals, processions, concerts, and fireworks that transform the waterfront and historic center into one large celebration for three days. This event belongs to the community even more than it does to the tourist calendar: the confraternities, the statue bearers, the families of the Mola maritime district, and the port fishermen are its true protagonists.
A community-organized celebration
The festivities are organized by the Parish of Saints Lorenzo and John the Baptist in collaboration with the Saint John the Baptist Festival Committee, with the support of the Municipality of Formia, which handles traffic ordinances, bus terminal relocations, and safety measures each year. The program follows a well-established balance: religious events in the morning and civil and musical events in the evening, culminating in a grand fireworks finale after midnight.
The procession and sea rituals
The heart of the solemnity is the morning of June 24th, with a Eucharistic concelebration presided over by the Archbishop of Gaeta and attended by civil and military authorities. Immediately after, the grand procession follows the traditional route, led by brass bands accompanying the statue of the Precursor through the city streets. The most moving moment takes place at Molo Azzurro, where the sailor's prayer is recited and the fishermen are blessed, followed by the casting of a laurel wreath into the water in memory of those lost at sea. This is followed by the traditional daytime pyrotechnic battery, a highly anticipated event in Formia.
Largo Paone, the festival stage
At sunset, the action moves to Largo Paone, overlooking the waterfront, which hosts the stage for the major evening concerts. Over the years, it has featured well-known names in Italian music and popular tribute bands, always with free admission. Before the concerts, a performance by the grand brass band is customary on the church square, keeping alive a repertoire of traditional marching music and operatic transcriptions from the southern school.
The White Night of the Borough
In the days leading up to the feast, the Mola district and Via Abate Tosti come alive with the White Night "The Borough in Music": food and wine trails, street performers, games for children, open shops, and live music echoing through the alleys. It is the perfect opportunity to discover the maritime side of Formia and taste the products of the gulf, from the local catch to buffalo mozzarella from the plains and Gaeta olives.
The Saint John Fireworks
The true symbol of the festival remains the Saint John Fireworks: a pyrotechnic show over the sea that, late at night, is launched from the waters in front of Molo Vespucci. Thousands of people line the waterfront, the beaches, and boats to witness one of the most popular fireworks displays in lower Lazio, curated by top-tier firms in the industry. It is the image with which the city closes the festivities and officially kicks off its summer season.
When to go
The festival is always centered around June 24th, the day of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, with events spread across the preceding days. Visitors arriving during this time will find the city already in a summer mood, with the beaches of Vindicio and Gianola active and the chance to combine the festival with a visit to archaeological sites such as the Tomb of Cicero or the Riviera di Ulisse Regional Park.
Saint John the Baptist — edition 2026
The 2026 edition
The 2026 edition of the Saint John the Baptist Festival had a special significance: in addition to the jubilee year, the community celebrated the return of the patron saint's statue after a meticulous restoration, publicly presented on Saturday, June 20, after Holy Mass with the blessing of the bearers.
The civil program kicked off on Monday, June 22, with the White Night "The Borough in Music" along Via Abate Tosti, featuring live music, street performers, and food and wine trails in the maritime district. On Tuesday, June 23, the day concluded with the sea procession and, in the evening, a tribute concert at Largo Paone.
On Wednesday, June 24, the solemnity of the Nativity, the morning was marked by Holy Masses and the solemn Eucharistic concelebration presided over by the Archbishop of Gaeta, followed by the grand procession through the city streets with the "Città di San Giorgio a Liri" and "U. Scipione — Città di Formia" brass bands. At Molo Azzurro, the sailor's prayer, the blessing of the fishermen, the casting of the wreath for victims of the sea, and the daytime pyrotechnic battery took place.
In the evening, after the brass band concert on the church square, the Largo Paone stage hosted the Nomadi concert as part of their "Live 2025-2026" tour, in front of a packed square. At 12:30 AM, the Saint John Fireworks over the waters of Molo Vespucci closed the festivities.
Programme Saint John the Baptist 2026
Saturday, June 20 (preview)
- 7:00 PM — Holy Mass presided over by Msgr. Mariano Parisella, Vicar General, with the blessing of the bearers
- 8:00 PM — Public presentation of the restoration work on the statue of Saint John
Monday, June 22
- 8:30 PM — White Night "The Borough in Music", Via Abate Tosti: live music, street performers, games, and food stands in the borough
Tuesday, June 23
- 7:00 PM — Holy Mass and procession with sea blessing
- 9:30 PM — Tribute concert at Largo Paone (Queen of Bulsara)
Wednesday, June 24 — Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
- Holy Masses at 7:00, 8:00, 11:30, 6:30 PM, and 7:30 PM
- 9:15 AM — Solemn Eucharistic concelebration presided over by the Archbishop of Gaeta with civil and military authorities
- Following — Grand procession through the city streets with the "Città di San Giorgio a Liri" and "U. Scipione — Città di Formia" brass bands
- At Molo Azzurro — Sailor's prayer, blessing of the fishermen, casting of the wreath for victims of the sea, and daytime pyrotechnic battery
- 8:30 PM — Concert by the grand brass band "Città di San Giorgio a Liri" on the church square
- 9:30 PM — NOMADI in concert, "Live 2025-2026", Largo Paone
- 12:30 AM — The Saint John Fireworks: pyrotechnic show over the sea at Molo Vespucci, by Senatore Fireworks
Highlights Saint John the Baptist 2026
- Nomadi in concert at Largo Paone on June 24 at 9:30 PM, free admission
- The grand procession on June 24 with two brass bands
- The blessing of the fishermen and the casting of the wreath at Molo Azzurro
- The return of the patron saint's statue after restoration
- The White Night of the Mola Borough with music and flavors of the gulf
- The Saint John Fireworks over the sea at Molo Vespucci at 12:30 AM
Prices Saint John the Baptist 2026
Practical information — Saint John the Baptist
How to get there
By train: Formia-Gaeta station on the Rome-Naples line, with frequent direct connections; from the station, the center and the waterfront can be reached on foot in about 15 minutes or by local bus. By car: Take the Cassino exit from the A1 motorway and then the SS630, or the SS7 Appia along the coast. By plane: Rome Fiumicino and Naples Capodichino airports are both about two hours away.
Parking and traffic
During the festivities, the Municipality issues traffic closure ordinances in the Largo Paone and waterfront areas, with the bus terminal being relocated. It is advisable to leave your car in peripheral parking lots and continue on foot: turnout is very high on the evening of June 24th.
Costs
Participation in religious rites, concerts at Largo Paone, and the fireworks display is free. Only food and drinks at the stalls and local establishments are paid.
Tips
For the fireworks, it is best to position yourself along the Repubblica waterfront or on the pier well in advance. Those staying for several days will find hotels and accommodations in Formia, Gaeta, and Scauri, but booking in advance is essential during the high season.
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Where does it take place — Saint John the Baptist
Largo Paone e Borgo di Mola
Largo Paone, 04023 Formia