Terminillo Mountain Festival

A festival that brings the mountains to the heart of the Rieti summer

The Terminillo Mountain Festival takes place in Pian de' Valli, the tourist hub of Mount Terminillo—the peak that towers over the town of Rieti and has long been known as "Rome's mountain." Located in the province of Rieti in northern Lazio, at an altitude of approximately 1,600 meters and just over an hour from the capital, it serves as an Apennine balcony that thrives on skiing in winter and, thanks to this event, discovers a new summer identity defined by hiking, outdoor sports, and mountain culture.

The festival follows a distributed format: rather than a single stage, it utilizes a series of thematic areas spread across Pian de' Valli, Via dei Villini, Piazzale Zamboni, and the "Enrico Leoncini" High-Altitude Field, hosting activities from morning until late at night.

Festival Areas

• Coldiretti Village — the gastronomic heart of the event, featuring Campagna Amica farmers, tastings, workshops, and show cooking sessions dedicated to the flavors and traditions of the Rieti territory.
• Sports Arena — demonstrations and exhibitions by ASI-affiliated associations, with a program ranging from martial arts to dance, fitness, and wellness activities.
• Winter Sports Zone — the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) offers introductory sessions in skiroll and biathlon, allowing visitors to explore Nordic disciplines during the summer.
• Outdoor — trekking and baby trekking, e-bike outings, cycling tours, an adventure park, and yoga sessions with views of the Apennine peaks.
• Mountain Crafts — exhibition stands and stalls dedicated to traditional craftsmanship from the central Apennines.

Evenings: Concerts, DJ sets, and Shows

At night, the festival shifts gears. The artistic lineup has brought major names to Terminillo: the 2025 edition opened with a concert by Adriano Pappalardo and featured a show by Cristina D'Avena designed for families and children, alongside DJ sets and a 90s revival night. Evening shows are traditionally free of charge, a choice that has helped the event's audience grow rapidly.

Sports, Solidarity, and Curiosities

Alongside daily activities, the program includes extraordinary events each year: a high-altitude pole vaulting competition, panoramic helicopter rides over the Rieti basin, vintage car and motorcycle rallies, and the Terminillo Legend Cup, a charity match between the National Actors-Singers team and the Legend Team held at the High-Altitude Field, one of the highest sports facilities in Italy.

History and Figures

The first edition was held in the summer of 2024, promoted by the Rieti municipal administration together with the Terminillo Eventi Sport e Cultura association, with the support of the Province of Rieti and the Lazio Region. The second edition, from July 10 to 13, 2025, significantly expanded the program: Coldiretti estimated over twenty thousand visitors to the Mountain Village alone. Mayor Daniele Sinibaldi and Deputy Mayor for Tourism and Sport Chiara Mestichelli described it as "a winning model based on collaboration and synergy," noting how in just two editions, the festival has become one of the most significant events of the Rieti summer and a concrete tool for seasonal adjustment in the mountains.

Why it's worth the trip

The Terminillo Mountain Festival is the perfect opportunity to discover a destination that many only associate with snow. Between ancient beech forests, scenic trails toward Vallonina and the peaks of the Terminillo group, typical Sabina products, and evenings of music under the Apennine sky, the event perfectly captures the identity of this corner of Lazio: a genuine mountain, accessible and very close to Rome.