San Giuseppe Fair
The major patronal fair of the Castelli Romani, featuring food and wine, crafts, and music
About San Giuseppe Fair
A nearly century-old tradition just outside Rome
The San Giuseppe Fair is the most anticipated event of the year in Monte Compatri, a village in the Castelli Romani area in the province of Rome, Lazio. Dedicated to the town's patron saint, the event has grown over time to become one of the longest-running popular fairs in the region: in 2026, it celebrated its 99th edition, already looking ahead to the symbolic milestone of the centenary. Originally a village fair with local producers and artisans lining the main street, it has kept its authentic character while enriching itself over the years with cultural, musical, and sporting events.
Over fifty stalls along Viale Busnago
The heart of the fair is the Viale Busnago promenade, where over fifty stalls showcasing food and wine, crafts, and nursery products are set up. Here, visitors can taste and purchase products that tell the story of the agricultural landscape of the Castelli and the inland areas of Lazio:
- Local wines from the Castelli Romani, served directly by the producers
- Cured meats and cheeses from small local farms
- Strawberries, truffles, and saffron, among the most sought-after specialties of the fair
- Handcrafted creations, from ceramics to natural material works
- Plants and floral arrangements, with a section dedicated to nursery gardening
The exhibition stalls are generally open from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM throughout the event. The participation of exhibitors from outside the municipality—from Albano to Palestrina—makes the fair a key showcase for artisans in the Roman metropolitan area.
Street food in Piazzale Nassiriya
Alongside the traditional stalls, the Pro Loco Monte Compatri manages the street food area in Piazzale Nassiriya, which becomes the town's liveliest meeting point in the evenings. The menu ranges from burgers to barbecue, arrosticini to porchetta, and fried snacks to desserts, all accompanied by entertainment and live concerts until late at night.
Music, motors, and folklore
The evening program is traditionally entrusted to concerts and tribute bands that attract an intergenerational audience, while the mornings are dedicated to vintage car rallies in Piazza Garibaldi and sidecar parades organized with local motorcycle clubs. The event also highlights local identity with performances by the Compatrum Folkloristic Musical Corps and the passage of the Bersaglieri Fanfare, which mark the official moments of the festival.
Culture, museums, and the historic center
The fair is also an opportunity to discover the heritage of Monte Compatri. During the event, the Archeoclub offers free guided tours of the historic center, while the San Silvestro Art Gallery, the Peasant Museum, the Photography Museum, and Palazzo Annibaldeschi—which also hosts chamber music concerts—remain open to the public. The calendar is completed by book presentations curated by the Controluce Association and nature walks in the surroundings of the village.
Why it's worth visiting
The San Giuseppe Fair is an authentic portrait of a patronal feast in Lazio: no spectacle, just a community showcasing its products, museums, and associations. The location of Monte Compatri, just over twenty kilometers from Rome and overlooking the Roman countryside, makes it an ideal destination for a day trip in early May, perhaps combined with a visit to the other villages of the Castelli Romani.
San Giuseppe Fair — edition 2026
The 99th edition
The 2026 edition of the San Giuseppe Fair, the 99th, was held in Monte Compatri from Friday, May 1st to Sunday, May 3rd, 2026. As per tradition, the Viale Busnago promenade hosted over fifty stalls dedicated to local wines, cured meats, cheeses, strawberries, truffles, and saffron, alongside offerings from artisans and nursery gardeners. In Piazzale Nassiriya, the Pro Loco Monte Compatri managed the street food area, enlivened every evening by live music.
Mayor Francesco Ferri emphasized how the fair represents "identity, tradition, and community" for the town, while the Councilor for Culture and Tourism Serena Gara recalled the collaborative work with local associations and producers. At the end of three highly attended days, attention is already turning to the centenary edition.
Programme San Giuseppe Fair 2026
Friday, May 1st, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Inauguration ceremony with Mayor Francesco Ferri, Councilor for Culture and Tourism Serena Gara, City Council President Alessandro Monti, and authorities
- Performance by the Compatrum Folkloristic Musical Corps
- 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM — Face painting for children on the promenade, by the Italian Red Cross
- 8:30 PM — Concert by the Green Bus
Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
- All day — "Spring Outing to the Castelli Romani" rally and vintage car exhibition in Piazza Garibaldi with the Castelli Romani Vintage Car Club
- 10:30 AM — Nature walk to the Collina degli Asinelli
- 5:00 PM — Book presentations by the Controluce Association
- 6:00 PM — Concert by the Tetra-Q Saxophone Quartet at Palazzo Annibaldeschi (by reservation)
- 8:30 PM — Concert by the 883 Tribute Band in the street food area
Sunday, May 3rd, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Sidecar parade in collaboration with the Motoclub ASD FMI "On Road"
- 5:00 PM — Parade of the Bersaglieri Fanfare
- 8:30 PM — Concert by "Secondo Tempo", a tribute band dedicated to Ligabue
Every day
- Exhibition stalls along Viale Busnago from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM
- Street food area in Piazzale Nassiriya managed by Pro Loco Monte Compatri
- Guided tours of the historic center by Archeoclub Monte Compatri, at 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM
- San Silvestro Art Gallery open from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
- Peasant Museum and Photography Museum open from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM
- Palazzo Annibaldeschi open from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Highlights San Giuseppe Fair 2026
- Over fifty food, craft, and nursery stalls along Viale Busnago
- Pro Loco street food area in Piazzale Nassiriya: burgers, barbecue, arrosticini, porchetta, fried snacks, and desserts
- Three evenings of concerts: Green Bus, 883 Tribute Band, and Secondo Tempo (Ligabue tribute)
- Vintage car exhibition in Piazza Garibaldi and sidecar parade
- Free guided tours of the historic center and extraordinary museum openings
- Concert by the Tetra-Q Saxophone Quartet at Palazzo Annibaldeschi
Prices San Giuseppe Fair 2026
Practical information — San Giuseppe Fair
How to get there
By car from Rome: Via Casilina or A1 motorway, exit Monte Porzio Catone, then follow signs for Monte Compatri (about 25 km from the Grande Raccordo Anulare). By train: FL4 line Rome Termini–Frascati or Monte Compatri–Pantano station on Metro C, then local bus connection. During the fair, traffic changes are in effect in the center and the Viale Busnago area.
Admission and hours
Access to the fair, stalls, and concerts in Piazzale Nassiriya is free. Exhibition stalls are generally open from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM. Some cultural initiatives, such as concerts at Palazzo Annibaldeschi, require reservations.
Tips
The May 1st period is very busy: it is advisable to arrive in the morning to park easily and take advantage of the 10:30 AM guided tours. For accommodation, options are available in Monte Porzio Catone, Frascati, and Rocca Priora, all just a few minutes away by car.
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Where does it take place — San Giuseppe Fair
Passeggiata di viale Busnago e piazzale Nassiriya
Viale Busnago, 00077 Monte Compatri