Festival of Flags

On Saturday 4 July 2026, the historic centre of Artena, one of the most picturesque villages in the Lepini Mountains, will host a new edition of the Festival of Flags, an event dedicated to the art of flag-waving and music, celebrating tradition, folklore and the ancient disciplines of flag-waving.

The event offers an opportunity to admire some of Lazio’s most prestigious historical groups, who will take centre stage in spectacular performances combining technique, elegance, coordination and music, keeping alive a tradition handed down through the centuries.

Bringing the festival to life will be the Flag-wavers of the Districts of Cori, the Flag-wavers and Musicians of Velletri, the Scudo di Lepanto Flag-wavers and Musicians of Marino and the hosts, the Alfieri del Cardinal Borghese of Artena, who will bring historical costumes, flags, drums and highly spectacular choreographed displays to the village.

The programme will kick off at 17:00 with performances by the youth groups and smaller teams, whilst from 8.30 pm the historic centre will be paraded through by the traditional historical procession, led by a delegation from the Ente Palio di Artena, which will symbolically herald the grand Palio parade scheduled for August.

This will be followed by spectacular performances by the senior teams, featuring solo, duet and large group routines, as well as captivating performances by the musicians, who will transform the village’s squares and streets into an authentic medieval stage.

The Festival is dedicated to the memory of Francesco Palone, the legendary drummer of the Artena group, after whom the Francesco Palone Musicians’ Award is named; this is awarded to the best participating group of musicians. The Feudo di Montefortino Special Award will also be presented, a prize awarded to the historical re-enactment group that stands out most for its artistic quality and the authenticity of its re-enactment.

The 2026 edition will take place alongside the Notte Bianca dei Saldi, which will make the atmosphere in the village even livelier thanks to special late-night opening hours for shops, handmade craft markets, tastings of typical local produce and activities for children in Piazza Galileo Galilei.

The Festival of Flags in Artena is one of the most evocative events dedicated to the flag-wavers of Lazio; an event that combines spectacle, history and local identity, offering visitors the chance to experience the charm of one of the most authentic villages in the Rome area through the beat of the drums, the fluttering of the flags and the beauty of ancient traditions.