FEASTS, FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

There are far too many festivals in Umbria for us to cover them all but included here is a monthly guide for those that we find most interesting. In addition to those listed, most villages and towns will have their own summer festival with music, local food specialities and sometimes fireworks. During the summer months, the central piazza of Città di Castello often hosts music and dance performances free of charge.

Italians are by nature a passionate and inspired people and are very keen on festivals and celebrations of all sorts. So, it's not surprising that every year hundreds of festivals and events are held celebrating everything from history to food. As we all know, if there is one thing the Italians do really well is celebrate!

The Upper Tiber Valley is no different. Local festivals are one of the real excitements of any trip to the Upper Tiber Valley and are celebrated with an enormous sense of fun and zest for life. Many of the festivals have been celebrated for centuries. From spectacularly colorful processions in medieval costumes to community competitions in archery and goose dipping, to fall food festivals, our area puts on some of the most beautiful and fun festivals around. Within this section you will find the local festivals and holidays of our region. (Please check with the local Tourist information center because dates may change without notice.)

Festivals in the hilltop towns are especially exciting. Because of their narrow winding streets and cozy squares, you are able to mingle with the locals, who will always want to explain the historic meaning of what's going on. Sometimes it's hard to decide which is more entertaining - the festival or the locals participating. And, even if you don't speak Italian, it's quite easy to get caught up in the celebration and pageantry.

The harvest season brings a wealth of gastronomic festivals throughout Italy. Here are a few:

The grape harvest takes place at the end of September. The Upper Tiber Valley has a few wine producers who will allow you to help in the harvest.
The olive harvest takes place in November. Tours can be arranged if you're interested in helping out during an olive harvest. TIP: Buy freshly squeezed olive oil in November!
The chestnut harvest takes place between the middle of October and the middle of November. Umbria is well known for its great chestnuts. In fact, during the Truffle Festival in November, chestnuts are roasted in big round cylinders over an open fire in Città di Castello.

Feasts are another special aspect of the Upper Tiber Valley. If you're ever lucky enough to be invited to attend a wedding feast or a Christmas feast you'll soon understand that feasts in Umbria are so much more than just food. Much care is put into the planning of an Umbrian feast and, more often than not, the feast usually spans up to 5 hours or more. Samples of local feasts are given within this website chapter.

National holidays - such as Liberation Day (April 25th), Easter and Assumption of Mary, also known as Ferragosto (August 15) are celebrated all over Italy and can easily be planned around your daily life or vacation. BEWARE: religious holidays strike without warning. Many small towns and villages celebrate their patron Saint unannounced and shops close.

Some other Umbrian Festivals worthy of mentioning are: