Festivals in Rome

Rome National Public Holidays

1st January - New Year's Day
6th January - Epiphany
Early April - Easter Monday
25th April - Liberation Day
1st May - Labour Day
29th June - Local Feast Day
15th August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
1st November - All Saints
8th December - Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
24th December - Christmas Eve
25th December - Christmas Day
26th December - Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day

Rome Events in January

Epiphany - early January, religious holiday called Befana in Italian. An ordination of new bishops takes place in St. Peter's Basilica. There is also an Epiphany fair held in the Piazza Navona
Feast of St. Antonio - January 17th, general celebrations

Rome Events in February

Ash Wednesday - late February, the Pope walks from the Basilica of Santa Sabina to the Circus Maximus, accompanied by members of the College of Cardinals

Rome Events in March

Festival of St. Francesca - early March, Roman's drive their cars to the Piazzale del Colosseo, near the Church of Santa Francesca for blessing
Feast of St. Joseph - mid-March, people celebrating the feast day of St. Joseph go to the Trionfale Quarter to eat a traditional type of doughnut
Festival of Giuseppe - mid-March, including sporting and musical events, held in the Trionfale Quarter
Maratona della Citta di Roma (marathon) - late March, this marathon is watched by crowds of people and the athletes run past many of the city's spectacular landmarks

Rome Events in April

Festa della Primavera (Spring Festival) - early April, the Spanish Steps are decorated with azalea plants and concerts are held in Trinita dei Monti
Good Friday - early April, the Pope leads the Procession of the Cross from the Colosseum to the Forum, in the evening
Easter - mid-April, an outdoor mass takes place in St. Peter's Square in the morning, with 20,000 reserved seats. The Pope then blesses the crowds at noon
Easter Monday - mid-April, many Romans head for the country and there are often celebrations at the Castel Sant'Angelo
Concerts - throughout April, the Accademia Filarmonica Romana performs regularly at the Teatro Olimpico

Rome Events in May

New Vatican Guard - May 6th, swearing in for the new guard at the Vatican on the anniversary of the Sacking of Rome
Tennis - early mid-May, the Masters Series Roma begins at the Parco del Foro Italico
Corpus Domini - mid-May, festival when a street is laid with floral carpets in elaborate motifs
Concerts - throughout May, the Accademia Filarmonica Romana performs regularly at the Teatro Olimpico
Chamber and symphony concerts - throughout May, the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia performs at the Via della Conciliazione

Rome Events in June

Festa della Republica - first Sunday in June, military parade centres on Via dei Fori Imperiali
Football / Soccer - throughout June, matches are held at the Stadio Olimpica at Via del Gladiatori and played in the afternoon
Saints Peter and Paul Day - late June, solemn masses are held at St. Peter's Basilica and elsewhere during this public holiday
Pesaro Film Festival - late June, also known as the International Exhibition of New Cinema, showcasing works of new directors and also old films from many countries

Rome Events in July

4th of July - American celebrations in the city, including a picnic and fireworks
Castel Madama - mid-June, parade in 16th-century costume and also horse races
Spoleto Festival - early to mid-July, held in Spoleto, this festival presents top-quality concerts, opera, dance, theatre and film
Operas and ballets - throughout July and early August, these are staged regularly at Teatro dell'Opera, Piazza Beniamino Gigli
Noianti Festival - mid to late July, folk music, dancing, parade floats and fireworks at Trastevere, in honour of the Virgin Carmine

Rome Events in August

Festa della Madonna della Neve - August 5th, open-air film festival, held at Santa Maria
Feast of Our Lady of the Snow - early August, services at Santa Maria Maggiore, Via G. Alberto 47
Ferragosto (The Assumption) - August 15th, the midsummer Roman holiday. A great many places close down on this day

Rome Events in September

Crafts show - late September, takes place in Via dell'Orso

Rome Events in October

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi - early October, flowers are laid at the monument to St. Francis and at other statues, near San Giovanni, Laterano

Rome Events in November

All Saints' Day - early November, many churches that are usually closed may be open for visiting on this public holiday
Unity Day - early November, marking World War I and Armed Forces Day, there is a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Piazza Navona

Rome Events in December

Feast of the Immaculate Conception - early December, the Pope or his envoy places flowers at the column of the Virgin in Piazza di Spagnathis religious holiday
St. Stephen's Day - December 26th, many Romans visit nativity scenes in churches throughout Rome on this public holiday
New Year's Eve - December 31st, masses are celebrated in churches and traditionally, broken crockery is tossed from balconies. There are also many parties and general celebrations