Festivals & Events: Festivals in Trentino

Festivals in Tuscany

Festival name: Steam Train for the Epiphany
Date: January 5
Where: in Mugello
Province: Florence
Region: Tuscany
About the event: Celebrate the festive season with a trip through Mugello on the steam train. Departure from Florence Santa Maria Novella train station.

Festival name: Carnival
Date: The Last Thursday Night of Carnival
Town: Borgo San Lorenzo - in Mugello
Province: Florence
Region: Tuscany
About the event: The mysterious fantasy characters of Venetian fables roam the squares and alleys of Borgo San Lorenzo's historical centre on this festive night.

Festival name: Cricket's Festival (Festa del Grillo)
Date: Late April or Early May on Ascension Day
Where: Parco delle Cascine
Town: Florence
Province: Firenze
Region: Tuscany
Food: Sausages, braised artichokes
About the event: A market is held in the park where crickets are sold in colorful, hand-woven cages. Tradition holds that men should decorate their beloved's doors and windows with flowers and to offer them a cricket in a cage.
For more info: Florence Tourist Office, tel. (+39) 055-233-20

Festival name: Scarperia Infiorata
Date: Last Sunday in May Town: Scarperia - in Mugello Province: Florence Region: Tuscany About the event: The town of Scarperia floods with blossoms during this popular plant and flower fair. Themed floral compositions of petals and leaves decorate roads and squares of the town's historical center.

Festival name: Chianti Wine Festival
Date: End of May through early June
Where: main square, Piazza San Pietro in Mercato
Town: Montespertoli
Province: Florence
Region: Tuscany
Food: Chianti wine
About the event: Montespertoli, in the center of the Chianti region, is situated high on a hill and thus features spectacular views of Florence and other Tuscan cities. The Chianti Wine Festival is held there from the last Sunday in May to the first Sunday in June. Because Montespertoli is one of the wine capitals of Tuscany, it's the perfect place for a festival that features the best of the year's vintage. This year, the town will swarm with wine lovers and professional buyers alike for the 46th annual festival.
For more info: Florence Tourist Office
Tel. (+39) 055-233-20

Festival name: Frog Festival
Date: 1st weekend in June
Where: Castelnuovo Scalo, Loc. Ancaiano, Asciano, Firenze, Tuscany
About the event: In the village of Asciano, south-east of Sienna. The village of Asciano celebrates frogs during the Sagra della Ranocchia through music, dancing, and feasting. However, the same frogs that are being celebrated are also forced to take a place of honor on the festival's menu.
For more info: Mantova Tourist Office
Tel. +39 0557 355 746

Festival name: Giochi del Calcio Storico (historical soccer game) and the Feast of St. John
Date: On and around June 24
Where: Piazza Santa Croce
Town: Florence
Province: Firenze
Region: Tuscany
About the event: On the three days of the event, four soccer teams that represent the four districts of central Florence play three matches. The players wear 16th century costumes. The games take place in the square on a sand-covered field and are a mixture of soccer, wrestling and rugby. The winners receive a calf as a symbolic prize and they eat it at a street party after the match. On June 24, St. John's day, a pageant takes place at Pallazzo Vecchio and candles are presented. At night, a fireworks show in Piazzale Michelangelo ends the feast.
For more info: Tel. 055 2616052 (Piazza Santa Croce)

Festival name: Il Palio
Date: July 2 and August 16

Festival name: Puccini Opera Festival
Date: July 19 to August 24

Festival name: Festa Della Rificolona
Date: First week of September
Town: Florence
Province: Firenze
Region: Tuscany
About the event: Florentine children parade through the streets with paper-mache lanterns tied to sticks, called rificolone. There are also parties in the squares and theatrical productions in the street. On September 6 and 7, a fair is held in Piazza Santissima Annunziata. The festival ends on the night of September 7 with a procession to the piazza led by the Cardinal.

Festival name: Renaissance Day
Date: First Sunday in September
Town: Scarperia - in Mugello
Province: Florence
Region: Tuscany
About the event: Scenes from the 16th century come to life with music, archers, craftsmen, serfs, guards, and noblemen and women filling the streets. Period food can be sampled and paid for in florins, once the only coin accepted within town walls.

Festival name: Il Pane.in Pappa ("The Bread.in the Stew")
Date: One Sunday in September
Town: Borgo San Lorenzo - in Mugello
Province: Florence
Region: Tuscany
About the event: Early 20th century is celebrated in Borgo San Lorenzo's historical center, with song, dance, and colorful costumes. Visit the bread exhibition and sample some tasty "pane in pappa" (bread soup) along with the local lace-maker, hatter, barber, knife-grinder, wine presser, and washerwoman.

Festival name: Diotto
Date: First Half of September
Town: Scarperia - in Mugello
Province: Florence
Region: Tuscany
About the event: The event celebrates the Diotto, or Die Octo ("Eigth Day"), the date of the historical commemoration of the vicar's induction. The festivities include a Renaissance parade and procession, as well as the awarding of the Palio of Diotto.

Festival name: Chestnut Festival
Date: During The Month of October
Town: Marradi - in Mugello
Province: Florence
Region: Tuscany
About the event: In 2003, come enjoy Mugello's 41st Chestnut Festival. Journey home with baskets or bags full of fresh chestnuts and homemade chestnut delicacies.

Festival name: New Wine Festival
Date: 2nd weekend of every November
Town: Montecarlo
Province: Lucca
Region: Tuscany
Food: Wine
About the event: A hearty celebration of the year's new wines with tastings and delicious food.
For more info:Montecarlo Tourist Information Office
Tel. (+39) 05- 83 -22- 971

Festival name: White Truffle Festival
Date: One weekend in November
Where:Piazza del Populo, in the heart of historic downtown
Town:San Miniato
Province:Pisa
Region:Tuscany
Food:Truffles
About the event:During the last three weekends in Novembe, stall-holders present cut-price truffles, wines, cheeses, salamis, olive oils, grappas, and more.
For more info:San Miniato Tourist Office
Tel. (+39) 057-142-745

Festival name: White Truffle
Exhibition Date: November 15th and 16th
Where: Villa Pecori Giraldi
Town: Casentino - in Mugello
Province: Florence
Region: Tuscany
About the event: For more info: Tel. (+39) 05584966229