It’s the first day of summer and while the temperatures may be sweltering in Northern Italy, I’m still excited summer has finally arrived. It’s the season of some of my favorite festivals. Here are 5 summer festivals not to miss in Northern Italy:
Festa del Redentore
Originally a celebration to give thanks for the end of the plague in 1576, today the Festa del Redentore is Venice’s hottest summer party. Venetians come from all over the Venetian Islands to moor their boats in the lagoon and celebrate literally from sundown to sunrise. The evening culminates in a massive fireworks display that lights up the sky for a whooping 45 minutes.
The Festa del Redentore is in July. Pack a picnic and party the evening away with hundreds of others. Fireworks start at 11:30pm, though you’ll need to secure your spot in San Marco much earlier if you want “front row” viewing.
Sculture di Sabbia
Each year the city of Jesolo, a city north of Venice on the Adriatic Sea, hosts an International Sand Sculpture festival. The annual contest has a different theme each year, like featuring the story of Pinocchio and his fantastic world. Sand artists from all over the world are the painstaking creators of the sculptures depicting the year’s tale or theme and tell a story through sand.
The Sculture di Sabbia runs June – August daily from 9am – 11pm. Admission is €2 and children are free.
Fiera dell’Aglio di Voghiera
Calling all garlic lovers! The village of Voghiera in the Emilia Romanga region celebrates one of the most renowned varieties of garlic, a gastronomic treasure that even has the status PDO (Protected Denomination of Origin) with a garlic fair each year. You’ll find almost only locals at this festival as they celebrate with food (all including garlic, of course), wine, and live music on the grounds of an ancient castle.
The Fiera dell’Aglio di Voghiera takes place at Belriguardo Castle fin August with food tents opening at 7pm. A fixed menu plate is €18 per person and includes ravioli in a garlic sauce, french fries seasoned with roasted garlic, garlic bruschetta, garlic sausage, garlic-breaded pork kebob, garlic seasoned steak, a slice of melon, a nectarine, and a nectarine torte for dessert.
Tractor Pulling Mania
Tractor pulling in Italy? That was my reaction too! But this was a surprisingly fun festival filled with beer, food, and lots of tractor pulling fun. Cheer on tractor, some decked out with specially modified engines, as they attempt to pull a massive block the furthest. Of course, the festival wouldn’t be complete without a Miss Tractor Pulling Contest followed by live music and partying until you can’t party no more.
Tractor Pulling Mania takes place in Fiume Veneto in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region in June beginning at 6pm.
Verona Opera Festival
Imagine sitting under the stars in the 3rd largest arena in the world built by the Romans in 30AD while strands of Italian opera dance across the night air. Each summer from June – September, you can do just that at the annual Verona Opera Festival. Each year operas like Aida come to the stage of the 3000 year old Roman amphitheater and tickets on the stone steps are incredibly affordable. Just be sure to bring a cushion to sit on!
The various operas run June – September multiple times weekly and start at either 9:15pm or 10pm, so prepare for a long and late night. Tickets range from €21 – €183 depending on the seats selected. Book tickets online.
Gennevia Porterfield says
Anthony Porterfield….5 to choose from if we want to go 🙂
Jennifer says
Definitely all fun festivals! Hope you make it out to some of them, Gennevia and Anthony!
Noel Morata says
Okay, I could easily do all of those except for the tractor pulling, somehow that one seems so not exciting for me.
Jennifer says
It was actually pretty fun! The festival was only about 15 minutes from our house and we didn't have any other plans that day, so we thought we'd check it out. I wouldn't specifically travel for it, but if you're in the area it's certainly unique!
Heather says
The tractor pulling is my favorite. It’s just so unexpected!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Totally unexpected, Heather! Tractor pulling isn’t something I’d ever think of Italians being into, let alone doing. And the crowd that shows up to cheer on the tractors is huge and hilarious!
Andrea says
So many interesting festivals…it is great when a country has a lot of these
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I think you can find some sort of festival just about every weekend in Italy! Some are small, but no matter the size, there is always yummy food!
Arianwen says
That should keep you busy! I like the sound of the tractor-pulling one the most. It’s not every day you get the chance to see that!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
No, definitely not. And I don’t really associate tractor pulling with Italians. Of course, the food alone is always reason enough to go to these festivals!
Freya says
I love the sand sculptures. Looks like I missed Festa del Redentore this year, I definitely want to go one year. It looks so beautiful with the fireworks over Venice. Verona looks awesome as well, I love operas.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Are you in Italy, Freya? The Festa del Redentore is on July 20, so you haven’t missed it yet!
Linda Bibb says
That garlic festival sounds fabulous! They have on ein Gilroy, California, but this would be so much better; what's Italian food without it? I would SO love to attend, as it has two of my favorite things, wine being the other. Have you been?
Jennifer says
We were just talking to Traveling With Sweeney about the garlic festival in California the other day! We haven't been to that one, but it sounds like it shouldn't be missed!
Adam Ross says
Well, if i were to say. I’m pretty much game for all of these activities, i think they’re as much fun and interesting as they look.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Most definitely, Adam! Italy has a lot of great summer festivals!
Metodija says
There is a great music summer festival in Italy in a town called Lucca. If you are Leonard Cohen or Nick Cave fan that’s the place to be. I think the festival begins in min of July so look it up!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks for the recommendation! We actually haven’t been to Lucca yet, so perhaps this gives us reason to go sooner rather than later.
Ali says
Mmmmmm garlic…. That one is tempting!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The garlic festival is one of my absolute favorites! I look forward to a feast of garlic every August.