Zagarolo Grape Festival

One of the oldest festivals in Lazio

The Zagarolo Grape Festival was inaugurated in 1930 and is now one of the longest-running and most celebrated popular events in Lazio. For over ninety years, every first weekend of October, the village of Zagarolo — a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Rome, nestled in the hills between the Castelli Romani and the Prenestina area — has celebrated the grape harvest and the centuries-old winemaking vocation of its land. The event, organized by the Pro Loco of Zagarolo with the support of the Municipality, has been awarded the "Quality Festival" mark since March 2024, a recognition that rewards festivals capable of preserving traditions and enhancing local heritage and economies.

The parade of allegorical floats and the historical pageant

The most anticipated moment is the parade of harvest-themed allegorical floats, decorated with bunches of grapes, which travel through the streets of the historic center amidst music and folklore. Accompanying them is the historical pageant in costume, curated with garments from the Sartoria Storica di Zagarolo, which evokes vintage harvests and the life of the village in times past. There is no shortage of folk groups, Roman stornelli singers, and traditional grape-harvesting demonstrations.

The taverns of the historic center

The gastronomic heart of the festival is the taverns set up in the alleys and squares of the village: in the 2025 edition, there were eighteen, each with its own menu, music, and activities. The dishes feature traditional Lazio cuisine, to be enjoyed paired with local wines, starting with the white Zagarolo DOC, one of the region's historic denominations.

Music, shows, and big guests

During the three days of festivities, every square becomes a stage: live concerts, tribute bands, DJ sets, cabaret, and dance performances follow one another with free admission from the afternoon until late at night. Over the years, the festival has hosted nationally renowned names: in 2025, the guest of honor was Nino Frassica with his Los Plaggers Band, joined by the Zoo di Radio 105 and the historic Roman group Ladri di Carrozzelle.

Palazzo Rospigliosi and the Toy Museum

The festival is also an opportunity to discover Zagarolo: during the festival weekend, the Toy Museum, housed in the monumental Palazzo Rospigliosi, opens its doors to visitors for free, and the Baroque historic center can be explored among churches, palaces, and panoramic viewpoints over the Lazio hills.

An autumn weekend just outside Rome

About half an hour from the Capital, easily reachable by train on the FL6 regional line, the Zagarolo Grape Festival is one of the classic autumn trips for Romans and those visiting Lazio in early October: three days of grapes, wine, music, and tradition in one of the most authentic villages in the province of Rome.