A dramatic Halloween celebration is due to take place in the tiny medieval village of Calcata, 40 km north of Rome, on 31 Oct from 17.00 until late. The village, populated mainly by artists and travellers, will be decorated with pumpkins for the occasion, and there will be a giant spiders web over the piazza with spiders crawling in the windows of houses. Children will be able to make their own music in the main piazza, which will be covered with metal sheets, and to trick or treat throughout the village. In all of the smaller piazzas there will be parties, games and live music. Visitors are invited to come in costume and to stay in character for the entire evening so that the village becomes a living stage. People are also requested to bring carved pumpkins to contribute to an illuminated monument, and there will be a competition for the best one on show.

Many of the restaurants in the village will be serving horror menus, and there will be a grotesque dinner in the Grotta dei Germogli with a live jazz band, The Monkey Brain Trio. The event is backed by the local authorities and the town administration. To reach Calcata, take the Via Cassia and exit at Mazzano Romano, or from Via Flaminia take the Rignano Falminio exit and drive through Faleria. The journey takes 30 minutes by car from exit 5 on the GRA. All are welcome.