Rome

January

• New Year’s Concert: January 1, held at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, featuring the Roma Opera House Orchestra.
• Epiphany Celebrations (Befana): January 6, across Lazio. This event involves processions, sweets, and the appearance of the Befana, an old woman delivering gifts to children. The Pope celebrates Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by a procession commemorating the visit of the Magi.
• Sant’Antonio Abate: January 17, celebrated in many towns with blessings of animals, parades, and traditional bonfires.
• Rome Marathon: A major marathon event held in Rome, attracting runners from all over the world.

February

• Carnival of Ronciglione: One of the oldest and most traditional carnivals in Italy, featuring parades, masks, and traditional costumes.
• Carnival of Viterbo: A historic event with parades, floats, and masquerade balls.
• Roman Carnival: Includes various musical performances throughout the Carnival season.
• Festival of Candles (Candelora): February 2, celebrated with candlelight processions and church services in various towns.
• Sagra della Polenta: Celebrated in Sermoneta, focusing on traditional polenta dishes.

March

• Feast of St. Joseph: March 19, celebrated in various towns with religious processions and traditional food, especially in Viterbo.
• Carnevalone Liberato: Held in Poggio Mirteto, it’s a unique post-carnival celebration marked by music, parades, and a lively atmosphere.
• Rome International Film Festival: A major cultural event showcasing international and Italian films.
• Roma Jazz Festival: An important event for jazz lovers, held in various venues across Rome.

April

• Holy Week and Easter Celebrations: Processions and religious events in Rome, Viterbo, and other towns, including the famous Via Crucis led by the Pope at the Colosseum.
• Good Friday Processions: Especially notable in Orte and Tarquinia, featuring dramatic re-enactments of the Passion of Christ.
• Infiorata di Bolsena: Flower festival held on the Sunday after Corpus Domini, with streets decorated with intricate flower carpets.
• Rome Independent Film Festival: Showcasing independent films from around the world.
• Roma Spring Music Festival: Featuring a range of performances from classical to contemporary music.
• Romics Festival of Rome: A prominent biannual event (repeated in October) celebrating comics, animation, and gaming, attracting fans, artists, and industry professionals from around the world

May

• Sagra delle Fragole (Strawberry Festival): Held in Nemi, featuring local strawberries and traditional dishes. 
• Festival of Sant’Egidio: May 1, in Orte, with historical re-enactments, parades, and traditional games.
• Sagra della Porchetta: Held in Ariccia, celebrating the famous roast pork with food stalls and live music.
• Giro d’Italia: This prestigious cycling race often passes through Lazio, attracting cycling enthusiasts.
• Rose Petal Shower at the Pantheon: Held on Pentecost Sunday, at the end of the Mass, thousands of red rose petals are released from the large circular opening at the top of the dome.
• Concerto del Primo Maggio: May 1, a massive free concert in Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome, featuring numerous Italian and international artists.
• Roma Summer Fest: Begins in late May, held at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, featuring a wide range of genres.

June

• Infiorata di Genzano: Another renowned flower festival where streets are adorned with elaborate floral carpets during the Corpus Domini feast.
• Feast of Saints Peter and Paul: June 29, celebrated in Rome with various religious and cultural events.
• Sagra della Fregnaccia: Early June in Selci, celebrating a local savory pancake with tastings and entertainment.
• Festa di San Giovanni: June 24, in various towns including Rome, featuring traditional foods like snails and historical parades.
• Corpus Christi (Corpus Domini): Procession from the Basilica of St. John Lateran to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, The Pope carries the Blessed Sacrament through the streets, followed by clergy, religious orders, and the faithful.
• Romaeuropa Festival: A major arts festival featuring contemporary theater, dance, and music.
• Festa della Cultura e Gastronomia: In various towns, celebrating local culture and cuisine.
• Estate Romana: A summer-long festival that includes numerous musical performances, ranging from classical to pop, held in various venues across Rome.
• Rock in Roma: A major rock festival held at various locations, including the Capannelle Racecourse, which continues through July.
• Caracalla Festival: Begins in June and runs through August, featuring opera, ballet, and concerts at the historic Baths of Caracalla.

July

• Estate Romana: A summer-long festival in Rome with open-air concerts, cinema, theater, and various cultural events.
• Roma Incontra il Mondo: A multicultural music festival held in Rome.
• Festa della Madonna del Carmine: Mid-July in several towns with religious processions and celebrations.

August

• Palio di S. Anastasia: August 15, in Campagnano di Roma, with medieval games and parades.
• Festa di Santa Rosa: September 3, in Viterbo, featuring the transport of a huge, illuminated tower through the streets by hundreds of men.
• Festa del Mare: Held in coastal towns like Anzio and Nettuno, celebrating the sea with processions of boats, fireworks, and seafood festivals.
• Ferragosto: August 15, a major holiday in Italy celebrated with feasts, fireworks, and beach parties throughout Lazio.
• Classica al Tramonto: Classical music concerts held at sunset in various scenic locations in Rome.

September

• Grape Festivals: Various towns celebrate the grape harvest with wine tastings, music, and parades, notably in Marino and Castelli Romani.
• Festa di San Matteo: Late September in various towns with religious parades and local fairs.
• Festa della Madonna della Quercia: Celebrated in Viterbo with processions and historical re-enactments.
• Notte Bianca: “White Night” in Rome, featuring all-night cultural events, concerts, and exhibitions.
• Jazz e Image: Jazz festival held at the Villa Celimontana in Rome.
• Festa della Musica: Celebrated on September 21, with free concerts in various locations throughout Rome.

October

• Sagra della Castagna (Chestnut Festival): Held in several towns such as Vallerano and Soriano nel Cimino, celebrating chestnut harvest with local dishes and entertainment.
• Sagra della Castagna Rossa: In Caprarola, celebrating the red chestnut with traditional dishes, music, and local crafts.
• Festa del Vino: In Montefiascone, celebrating the wine harvest with tastings, music, and traditional dishes.
• Rome Film Fest: A major international film festival attracting celebrities and filmmakers.
• Sagra del Tartufo: Truffle festival in Canterano, featuring truffle dishes and local wines.

November

• Sagra dell’Olio Nuovo: Celebrations in towns like Viterbo and Canino for the new olive oil harvest, including tastings and traditional meals.
• Fiera di Santa Caterina: In Bolsena, with traditional market stalls and local crafts.

December

• Christmas Markets and Nativity Scenes: Throughout December, many towns host traditional Christmas markets and elaborate nativity scenes (presepi), particularly famous in Greccio and Rome.
• Feast of the Immaculate Conception: December 8, celebrated with religious processions and local festivities. The Pope visits the statue of the Virgin Mary in Piazza di Spagna, placing a wreath of flowers on the statue.
• Santo Stefano Day: December 26, the day after Christmas, often marked with family gatherings and additional local events.
• Capodanno a Roma: New Year’s Eve celebrations with concerts, fireworks, and cultural events throughout Rome.