Waiting for the Befana in Casalotti

A neighborhood Befana, far from the city center crowds

While all of Rome converges on Piazza Navona on January 6th, the Casalotti neighborhood in the Municipio XIII Aurelio celebrates the Epiphany in its own way: with a party designed exclusively for the children who live here. Waiting for the Befana takes place on the eve of the holiday, January 5th, at the Parrocchia Santa Rita da Cascia in Casalotti, with access from Via Baveno 92. It is a free, local-scale event where neighborhood families gather without having to cross the city.

How the festival unfolds

The afternoon revolves around the Befana, who welcomes children while sitting on her swing and handing out sweets. The most anticipated moment is the Superpignatta, which fills the air with candy when it breaks. This is followed by the traditional stocking toss, the distribution of mini pizzas, and the broomstick race, a playful treasure hunt that turns the parish courtyard into an obstacle course for the little ones.

There are no stages, tickets, or reservations: the formula is intentionally simple and homey, built on volunteer work and collaboration between the Municipality and the parish. In case of bad weather, activities move indoors to the parish halls, ensuring the party goes on.

Part of the "Natale in Tredicesimo" program

The event is not isolated: it is part of the Natale in Tredicesimo (Christmas in the Thirteenth) program, the calendar of Christmas initiatives that the Municipio XIII Aurelio spreads throughout its territory between late December and the Epiphany. The program includes theatrical performances, gospel concerts in local churches, creative workshops, and family activities hosted in the Irnerio and San Silverio covered markets.

• January 5th - Waiting for the Befana at the Parrocchia Santa Rita in Casalotti, from 4:00 PM
• January 6th - Befana festival in the square at Largo San Pio V, 11:00 AM
• January 6th - The Befana and the Magic Night show at the Santa Rita da Cascia church, 3:30 PM
• January 6th - Going Gospel Night concert at the San Pio V church, 7:30 PM

Casalotti and the Municipio XIII

Casalotti is a residential neighborhood in the northwest quadrant of the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region, which developed between Via di Boccea and the historic Casalotti area. The Municipio XIII Aurelio, to which it belongs, is one of the largest in the capital and has for years focused on a decentralized event model: bringing culture and popular festivals to peripheral neighborhoods instead of concentrating everything in the historic center. Waiting for the Befana is one of the most successful examples of this choice.

The Parrocchia Santa Rita da Cascia, a historic reference point for the Casalotti community, also hosts other community moments throughout the year, from the patronal feast in May to activities for young people. During the Epiphany period, its spaces become the heart of neighborhood life.

Who is it for?

The festival is explicitly aimed at preschool and primary school children accompanied by their parents. It is not a tourist event and has no spectacular ambitions: those looking for the grand scenery of the Roman Epiphany will find more at Piazza Navona. However, those who want to see how Roman families truly experience the Befana, away from the postcards, will find an authentic and free opportunity here.