Saint Joseph the Worker Festival (Latina Scalo)
The patronal feast of Latina Scalo featuring solemn mass, processions, live music, and food stalls
About Saint Joseph the Worker
A patronal feast that doubles as a town celebration
The Saint Joseph the Worker Festival is the signature event for Latina Scalo, a district of Latina that grew around the railway station during the reclamation of the Agro Pontino. It is fitting that the patron saint is Saint Joseph the Worker, whose liturgical feast falls on May 1st: here, religious observance and Labor Day intertwine into a single, heartfelt celebration for the entire community in the heart of the Latina province, in southern Lazio.
The event is organized by the Parish Committee of the Saint Joseph the Worker parish, led by Father Nello Zimbardi, who curates a schedule each year that balances devotion with community spirit, involving local associations, dance schools, gyms, and sports clubs.
The religious heart: solemn mass and procession
The spiritual core of the event is the Solemn Holy Mass on May 1st, celebrated in the late afternoon at the parish church. Following the liturgy, the statue of the saint is carried through the main streets of Latina Scalo in a traditional procession, accompanied by the Banda Rossini, whose brass repertoire sets the pace. This is when the festival shows its most authentic side: decorated balconies, families on their doorsteps, and generations coming together along the same route.
Music, comedy, and entertainment on stage
In the evening, the parish square transforms into a stage. The program alternates between tribute concerts, dance nights, and comedy: recent years have featured cover bands dedicated to Queen, Pino Daniele, Vasco Rossi, and Max Pezzali, alongside well-known Italian comedians like Martufello and Simone Schettino. The shows are free to attend and attract audiences from the city of Latina and neighboring towns.
Artisans, associations, and the children's village
During the day, the space is dedicated to the local community. The artisan market fills the square with handmade crafts and local products, while neighborhood associations showcase their activities. For the little ones, the Children's Village is set up with inflatables, entertainment, and creative workshops run by the Agesci scouts. There are also performances by sports clubs—volleyball, rhythmic gymnastics, fitness—and dance schools, turning the square into a showcase for the district's youth.
The food stall
The food stall in front of the oratory is one of the pillars of the festival: traditional Pontine and Lazio dishes served under the marquee, with full menus at affordable prices. In recent editions, dinner has been organized by reservation, a detail worth checking in advance as spots fill up quickly. Proceeds from the stall and the raffle support the parish and oratory activities.
Why it's worth attending
The Saint Joseph the Worker Festival is not a massive regional event; it is a neighborhood feast that has maintained its human scale. Visitors from outside will find a sincere slice of life in the Agro Pontino, where the memory of the land reclamation and the families who arrived from Veneto and Friuli in the 1930s coexists with a much more diverse community today. Between a slice of cake, the passing band, and children on the inflatables, you will understand why people in Latina Scalo wouldn't spend the May 1st long weekend anywhere else.
Saint Joseph the Worker — edition 2026
Three days of celebration in the parish square
The 2026 edition confirmed the proven formula: opening on Thursday, April 30 at 6:00 PM with the artisan market in the square and performances by local dance schools, followed at 7:00 PM by the opening of the food stall in front of the oratory and, in the evening, the concert by ReQueen, a cover band dedicated to Queen and Freddie Mercury.
May 1st, the patron saint's day, was the busiest: from 9:00 AM, the Latina Scalo Volley exhibition; from 10:00 AM, artisan stalls open all day; from 11:00 AM, the Children's Village with inflatables and creative workshops run by the Agesci Latina 3 scouts; in the afternoon, rhythmic gymnastics and local gym performances. At 6:00 PM, the Solemn Holy Mass celebrated by Father Angelo Bonaiuto, followed by the procession of the statue through the main streets of Latina Scalo with the Banda Rossini. At 9:00 PM, the comedy show by Martufello, followed by the concert by Toledo, a tribute to Pino Daniele, with the raffle draw to support parish activities.
Saturday, May 2, featured a more convivial closing: food stall open, dance night with the band I Domino, and from 5:00 PM, a family bike ride with refreshments and a discount on dinner.
Programme Saint Joseph the Worker 2026
Thursday, April 30, 2026
- 6:00 PM - Opening of the artisan market in the square
- 6:00 PM - Performances by local dance schools (Magia Dance)
- 7:00 PM - Opening of the food stall in front of the oratory
- Evening - Concert by ReQueen, Queen cover band
Friday, May 1, 2026
- 9:00 AM - Exhibition by the Latina Scalo Volley association
- 10:00 AM - Artisan stalls open all day
- 11:00 AM - Children's Village: inflatables, entertainment, and creative workshops by Agesci Latina 3 Scouts
- Afternoon - Rhythmic gymnastics and local gym performances
- 6:00 PM - Solemn Holy Mass celebrated by Father Angelo Bonaiuto
- Following - Procession of the statue through the main streets of Latina Scalo with the Banda Rossini
- 9:00 PM - Comedy show by Martufello
- Following - Concert by Toledo, tribute to Pino Daniele
- Closing - Raffle draw to support parish activities
Saturday, May 2, 2026
- 5:00 PM - Family bike ride with refreshments and dinner discount
- Evening - Food stall open and dance night with the band I Domino
Dinner at the food stall by reservation (in the official 2026 communications, the contact indicated was Agostino, tel. +39 328 6849894).
Highlights Saint Joseph the Worker 2026
- Solemn mass on May 1st and patron saint procession with the Banda Rossini
- Comedy show by Martufello, a well-known face of Lazio comedy
- Tribute concert to Pino Daniele by the band Toledo
- ReQueen, a Queen cover band, on the opening night
- Children's Village with inflatables and Agesci Scout workshops
- Artisan market and performances by local sports clubs
- Family bike ride on Saturday, May 2
Prices Saint Joseph the Worker 2026
Practical information — Saint Joseph the Worker
Getting there
Latina Scalo is easily reached by train: the Latina station is located in the district itself, on the Rome Termini - Naples via Formia line, with frequent regional connections (about 50 minutes from Rome). By car, take the Latina exit from the SS148 Pontina, then follow signs for Latina Scalo; parking is available in the streets around the square, but it is best to arrive early on busy evenings.
Admission and costs
Access to the festival, shows, and children's activities is free. Only food at the stall and raffle tickets to support the parish are paid.
Tips
For dinner at the stall, reservations are recommended in the days prior by contacting the parish committee. Spring evenings can be cool: bring a light jacket. Those wishing to follow the procession should find a spot along the central streets before 7:00 PM.
Where to stay
Accommodations and B&Bs can be found in the city of Latina (about 8 km away) and towards Sermoneta and Cisterna di Latina; the Abbey of Fossanova and the village of Sermoneta are ideal destinations to complete the weekend.
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Where does it take place — Saint Joseph the Worker
Piazza della Parrocchia San Giuseppe Lavoratore
Piazza San Giuseppe, Latina Scalo, 04013 Latina