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Rome Events in January - Rome

• 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 - Rome

• 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 - Rome

• 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 - Rome

• 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 - Rome

• 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 - Rome

• 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 - Rome

• 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 - Rome

• 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
• Ferragosta (The Assumption) - August 15th, the midsummer Roman holiday. A great many places close down on this day

Rome Events in September - Rome

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

Rome Events in October - Rome

• 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 - Rome

• 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 - Rome

• 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