A Calendar of Cool Festivals on the Umbria Tuscany Border
20 Festivals and Sagras for Rocking, Scoffing and Getting Down
Umbria and Tuscany are regions renowned for vibrant festivals and sagras offering an authentic experience of Italy. Food lovers, history buffs, wine aficionados, and music fans alike, will all discover something to tickle the fancy. This comprehensive calendar ensures you will find your favourite delicacies, centuries-old traditions and explore lively medieval reenactments, without missing a beat. From colourful flower festivals, to renowned events like the Umbria Jazz Festival and the Perugia Chocolate Festival.
This calendar will guide you through seasonal events that showcase these regions’ deep connections to history, agriculture, and art. For all the rest once you get there, here’s your handy Sagra Survival Guide
Spring Festivals in Umbria and Tuscany
March
Festa di San Giuseppe
Description: Celebrating Saint Joseph’s Day with traditional foods like “frittelle” (sweet fried dough) and local events. This marks the arrival of spring and is often accompanied by small fairs and religious processions.
Location: Various towns in Umbria and Tuscany
Dates: March 19th
April
Festa del Tulipano
Location: Castiglione del Lago, Umbria
Dates: Late April
Description: A vibrant Spring festival with tulip parades and cultural events. Brass bands accompany elaborately decorated floats covered in thousands of tulip petals. The streets are adorned with petals, and you will enjoy live music, dancing, and historical reenactments throughout the town.
The festival dates back to the 1950s when Dutch immigrants brought tulip bulbs to the region. Today, it’s a community-wide celebration of spring, nature, and culture. You can also enjoy local Umbrian cuisine at food stalls offering seasonal dishes, including fresh pasta, grilled meats, and pastries.
May | June
Infiorata di Spello
Location: Spello, Umbria
Dates: Weekend of Corpus Christi (late May to mid June)
Description: The Infiorata di Spello is one of the most visually stunning festivals in Italy. This festival is held in the small medieval town of Spello. The streets transform into intricate carpets made entirely from flower petals. These floral tapestries, often depicting religious themes, celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. This centuries-old tradition involves months of preparation. On the night before the festival, artists work tirelessly aiming to complete their floral masterpieces in time for Sunday morning’s procession. You can explore the town’s winding streets admiring the creations and indulging in local food and wine at numerous stalls and restaurants.
Giostra del Saracino
Location: Arezzo, Tuscany
Dates: June
Description: The Giostra del Saracino is a thrilling medieval jousting tournament held twice a year in Arezzo, Tuscany. This historic competition dates back to the 13th century held in honour of Saint Donato, the patron saint of Arezzo. Knights on horseback, representing different districts of the city, compete to strike a target (the Saracen) with their lances. The event is accompanied by grand parades, complete with colorful medieval costumes, musicians, and flag-throwers. The entire town becomes immersed in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Local Tuscan delicacies are available at the many food stalls and restaurants, including roasted meats, pastas, and hearty soups.
Summer Festivals in Umbria and Tuscany
July
Umbria Jazz
Umbria Jazz
Location: Perugia, Umbria
Dates: Mid-July
Umbria Jazz is one of Europe’s most prestigious jazz festivals, attracting top international and local musicians. Held annually in Perugia, the festival offers performances in historic venues like the Piazza IV Novembre and the Santa Giuliana Arena, as well as impromptu street performances throughout the town.
Visitors can enjoy a wide range of music, from traditional jazz to fusion, blues, and funk. In addition to world-class performances, the festival celebrates Umbria’s culinary delights, with food stalls and restaurants offering local specialties such as truffles, cheeses, and wine.
Umbria Film Festival
Location: Montone, Umbria
Dates: July
Description: The Umbria Film Festival is a charming, small-scale international film festival held in the picturesque hilltop town of Montone. This festival offers a unique setting for movie lovers, with open-air screenings of international films in the town’s historic piazza.
In addition to screenings, the festival hosts workshops, discussions, and events with filmmakers and actors. Visitors can explore Montone’s medieval streets. You can enjoy the laid-back atmosphere. You can also sample Umbrian cuisine at local trattorias. Fresh pasta dishes and grilled meats are served alongside the region’s famous wines.
Trasimeno Blues Festival
Location: Various locations around Lake Trasimeno
Dates: Late July to early August
Description: Set against the stunning backdrop of Lake Trasimeno. The Trasimeno Blues Festival is a celebrated annual event. It draws music lovers from across the globe. The festival showcases an eclectic mix of blues, jazz, and soul performances, featuring both international and local artists. Concerts take place in picturesque towns around the lake, such as Castiglione del Lago, Passignano, and Città della Pieve. These concerts offer a unique blend of music and breathtaking scenery. The festival is a blend of music, nature, and culture. Visitors can enjoy leisurely boat trips on the lake, explore medieval castles, and savour Umbrian cuisine, including fresh fish from the lake, locally produced olive oil, and wines from nearby vineyards
August
Palio dei Terzieri
Location: Città della Pieve, Umbria
Dates: Mid-August
Description: The Palio dei Terzieri is a vibrant medieval festival. It takes place in the charming town of Città della Pieve. The festival features a dramatic archery competition between the town’s three districts, or “terzieri.” It also includes a colorful historical parade. Participants don elaborate medieval costumes in the parade. Throughout the week, the town is filled with events, including reenactments, music, and feasts featuring traditional Umbrian dishes. Visitors can enjoy local specialties like wild boar, pasta with truffles, and roasted meats, accompanied by wines from the region.
Festa di San Lorenzo
Location: Castiglione del Lago, Gioiella
Dates: Around August 10th
Description: The Festa di San Lorenzo celebrates San Loren, the patron saint of Castiglione del Lago. The festival features religious processions, music, and cultural events. A highlight is the fireworks display over Lake Trasimeno, which illuminates the town’s historic castle and medieval streets. Food is central to this celebration. Stalls offer local delicacies such as fresh pasta and grilled meats. They also have desserts like “ciaramicola,” a traditional Umbrian cake. You can enjoy the town’s natural beauty, with its views of the lake and surrounding countryside.
Sagra della Bistecca
Location: Cortona, Tuscany
Dates: Mid-August
Description: The Sagra della Bistecca is a celebration of one of Tuscany’s culinary treasures: the Chianina beef. This festival, held in the beautiful hilltop town of Cortona, is a meat lover’s paradise. The highlight is the bistecca alla fiorentina, a thick-cut T-bone steak cooked over an open flame. It is served rare, as is the Tuscan tradition.
Dating back to the 1960s, this festival was created to honor the region’s rich agricultural heritage. Besides indulging in the legendary steaks, you can enjoy live music, folk dancing, and local wines. The festive atmosphere takes over the entire town. It is a great time to explore Cortona’s ancient streets, art galleries, and historical landmarks.
Autumn Festivals and Festas in Umbria and Tuscany
September
Festa dell’Uva e del Vino
Location: Chiusi, Tuscany
Dates: Late September
Description: Chiusi, a town rich in Etruscan history, hosts the Festa dell’Uva e del Vino. This festival celebrates the grape harvest and the production of new wines. This event is a must for wine lovers, as it features wine tastings, vineyard tours, and presentations by local winemakers.
The festival also includes parades. Floats are decorated with grapevine motifs. There’s a strong focus on regional food, with market stalls selling cheeses, cured meats, and freshly baked bread. You can enjoy traditional Tuscan dishes, such as ribollita (a hearty vegetable soup) and wild boar ragù. Live music, dancing, and fireworks create a joyful celebration of the harvest season.
Sagra della Porchetta
Location: Monte San Savino, Tuscany
Dates: Early September
Description: Porchetta, a savory, slow-roasted pork dish seasoned with herbs, takes center stage at the Sagra della Porchetta. Monte San Savino, a small town in Tuscany, is renowned for its porchetta, and this festival celebrates its centuries-old tradition. The porchetta is stuffed with rosemary, garlic, and fennel seeds. It is then roasted until the meat is tender and the skin is crispy.
In addition to enjoying porchetta, you can explore the town’s historical sites and visit the local market where you’ll find artisanal products, cheeses, wines, and other Tuscan specialties. Live music, cooking demonstrations, and cultural events add to the festival’s festive atmosphere.
Giostra del Saracino
Location: Arezzo, Tuscany
Dates: September
Description: The second annual jousting event in Arezzo, celebrated with historical reenactments and parades.
October
Perugia Chocolate Festival
Location: Perugia, Umbria
Dates: October
Description: Chocolate lovers from around the world flock to Perugia for the annual Eurochocolate Festival. This 10-day event turns the medieval city into a paradise for those with a sweet tooth. Streets and squares are filled with chocolate sculptures, tastings, workshops, and exhibitions showcasing the art of chocolate-making. Perugia is home to the famous Perugina chocolate factory. It is known for its Baci Perugina chocolates. The festival celebrates this rich heritage. You can sample chocolate from all over the world, participate in cooking demonstrations, and enjoy chocolate-themed street performances. The festival also features a wide range of chocolate products, from hot chocolate and pralines to chocolate liqueurs and spreads.
Sagra del Fungo e della Castagna
Location: Piegaro, Umbria
Dates: October
Description: As autumn blankets the Umbrian countryside in golden hues, the Sagra del Fungo e della Castagna celebrates the season’s bounty. The festival celebrates mushrooms and chestnuts. It is held in the charming town of Piegaro. The festival draws visitors with its traditional dishes featuring porcini mushrooms, chestnuts, and other local produce. Stalls line the streets offering mushroom-based dishes such as risotto ai funghi, pasta with porcini, and roasted chestnuts. Local hunters and foragers often lead excursions into the surrounding forests to teach visitors about the region’s mushrooms. In addition to the culinary delights, the festival includes artisan markets, live music, and workshops on traditional Umbrian cooking techniques.
Winter Festivals and Sagras in Umbria and Tuscany
November
Frantoi Aperti
Location: Various towns in Umbria
Dates: Throughout November
Description: The Frantoi Aperti is a month-long celebration of the olive harvest in Umbria. Visitors have the unique opportunity to tour olive mills. They can watch the production process of extra virgin olive oil. Additionally, they can participate in tastings. The festival takes place in several picturesque Umbrian towns, each offering a unique experience.
Freshly pressed olive oil is the star of the event, and it’s typically enjoyed drizzled over bruschetta or with local dishes like ribollita and roasted meats. The festival also includes olive oil-themed events, such as cooking demonstrations, guided tastings, and lectures on the health benefits of olive oil. Many towns also host markets selling local products like wine, honey, and cheese.
December
Christmas Markets (Mercatini di Natale)
Location: Various towns in Umbria and Tuscany (Perugia, Montepulciano, etc.)
Dates: Throughout December
Description: Traditional Christmas markets featuring artisan crafts, local foods, and festive decorations. Montepulciano is known for its charming market set in the historical square with a magical atmosphere.
January
Epiphany Celebrations (La Befana)
Location: Various towns in Umbria and Tuscany
Dates: January 6th
Description: Celebrations of the Epiphany, where “La Befana,” the traditional Italian witch, brings gifts to children. Parades, reenactments, and small festivals occur, especially in historic town centers.
February
Carnevale di Foiano della Chiana
Location: Foiano della Chiana, Tuscany
Dates: February (leading up to Lent)
Description: One of Tuscany’s oldest and most famous Carnival celebrations. It features large, elaborate floats, costumes, and parades. There is a festive atmosphere with music and street performers.
