San Marco Evangelista Carnival Parade

A town festival that returns every winter

The San Marco Evangelista Carnival Parade is the event that, at the end of winter, brings masks, colors, and music to the streets of this small town in the province of Caserta, in Campania. The masked procession travels through the town center and converges on Piazza Gramsci, the public space where the event is centered and where the party continues with children in costume, confetti, and streamers. It is not a large postcard-perfect carnival like those in nearby Capua or Maddaloni; rather, it is a neighborhood celebration, organized by the municipal administration and local associations for its citizens.

The procession and the square

The heart of the day is the parade: masked groups, families, young people, and associations walk through the town streets to the main square, which is closed to vehicle traffic for the occasion. The organization is managed by the Municipality of San Marco Evangelista, which issues a specific traffic ordinance each year to ensure the safety of the procession and the event in Piazza Gramsci. On the day of the parade, public transport is also adjusted: the line connecting Caserta and San Nicola La Strada to the town is diverted along an alternative route until normal traffic flow is restored.

A celebration designed especially for children

As is the case in many centers of the Terra di Lavoro, the San Marco Carnival is first and foremost a festival for children: people leave their homes in costume, meet up with school friends, and march together with their parents. It is a simple and deeply felt occasion that requires no tickets or registration and restores the square to its most ancient function: a place where the town recognizes itself.

• Masked procession open to everyone, no registration required
• Meeting point and arrival in Piazza Gramsci, closed to vehicle traffic
• Free participation, outdoor event
• Suitable for small children, strollers, and families

San Marco Evangelista, a small town in the Terra di Lavoro

With just over six thousand inhabitants, San Marco Evangelista is one of the smaller municipalities in the province of Caserta, just a few minutes from the provincial capital and the Caserta Sud motorway exit. The town is also known for the A1Expò exhibition center, which hosts regional fairs and events throughout the year, and celebrates its patron saint, Saint Mark the Evangelist, on April 25th. The Carnival parade, on the other hand, represents the most playful moment of the civic calendar, when the community occupies public space without formality.

Carnival in the Caserta area

In the Caserta area, Carnival has deep roots: nearby Capua celebrates one of the longest-running festivals in Italy, with its allegorical floats and a history dating back to the late 19th century, while in Maddaloni, floats are built by volunteers throughout the year. In this context, the San Marco Evangelista parade occupies a different and complementary position: it does not focus on spectacle, but on the direct participation of the inhabitants. For those visiting Campania during Carnival, it is a way to observe tradition as it is lived every day in the towns, far from the big stages.

When it takes place

The event takes place during the Carnival period, between February and early March depending on the liturgical calendar. In 2026, the parade was held on Tuesday, February 17th, Shrove Tuesday. Dates and times are announced by the Municipality a few days before the event through official channels and traffic ordinances: it is therefore advisable to check as the period approaches, as the detailed program is not always published online well in advance.