Sgurgola Carnival

The first carnival float in the history of Sgurgola

On Saturday, February 14, 2026, a breath of fresh air swept through Sgurgola, a village in the Province of Frosinone perched on the slopes of the Lepini Mountains, in southern Lazio. For the first time in the town's history, Carnival was celebrated with a real carnival float, built and animated by the Le Radici Cultural Association. A small revolution for the local community: until then, the tradition of floats was reserved for the historic Grape Festival at the end of September, while Carnival had never had a parade of its own.

Squid Game in a family-friendly version

The theme chosen for the debut float is Squid Game, the famous Korean series, reinterpreted in an ironic and completely child-friendly way. "We only took the ironic part and the colors of that theme, nothing that promotes violence," the organizers clarified. In fact, interactive games designed for children start from the float, transforming the famous format into an afternoon of pure fun in costume, amidst colors, music, and entertainment along the streets of the town center.

The Le Radici Cultural Association

Behind the initiative is a group of about twenty young people from the town, led by president Maria Camilli, who define themselves as "friends, neighbors, dreamers" united by their love for their village. Their philosophy is encapsulated in the very name of the association: "Roots are not meant to keep you still, but to push you upwards; they are the invisible bond that transforms a group of people into a community." Carnival is their official debut on the Sgurgola scene.

A festival built with the whole town

The project has brought the entire community together: the patronage of the Municipality of Sgurgola and the Pro Loco, the support of the CPCCL, and the collaboration of the Attilio Taggi school, the Senior Social Center, local associations, and merchants, who offer free snacks to the children. Along the parade route, there are food and wine stands, while surprise performances by street artists curated by Alberto Longo enliven the squares and alleys. The choice of Saturday afternoon, rather than Sunday like in neighboring towns, was intentional: to stand out and offer an alternative event in the local carnival calendar.

The day's program

• 2:00 PM — Carnival float parade between Piazza Arringo and Corso della Repubblica
• 2:30 PM — Start of children's games from the float
• 3:30 PM — Free snack break offered by local merchants
• 4:00 PM — Games resume
• 5:30 PM — Awards ceremony for the best costumes: best group or family, best male and female costume

Sgurgola, between the Lepini Mountains and the Sacco Valley

Sgurgola is a small municipality in Lazio overlooking the Sacco Valley, known above all for the Grape Festival, which in 2025 celebrated its seventieth edition with traditional floats and costumes. The new Carnival was born precisely from this local custom with floats, but projects it into a different season and entrusts it to a new generation: a sign of vitality for the village and the entire Lazio Region.