Month To Month
Umbria has activities, festivals, and food fares every month of the year . Here is a compilation of some of the most important. Browse through the list to find out what is happening during your stay in Umbria.
January
* Umbria Jazz Winter in Orvieto – Website
* Trasimeno Blues Festival in Lago di Trasimeno
* Hawthorn Flowering in Gualdo Tadino
* Feast of Saint Anthony in Borgo di Montemigiano and Cascia
* Pasquarella Festival in Cascia
* Saint Costanzo’s Festival in Perugia
* Awaiting Befana in Montefalco – Children’s carnival.
* Procession for Saint Emiliano in Trevi – Townspeople carry the emblems of the Arts & Crafts through the streets.
February
* The Burlesque Carnival Wedding in Sannicandro – The carnival satire take place with colourful allegoric figures like Cosimicchia and Trippetta, followed by Pulcinella, the Angel, the Devil and a mysterious Lady all get married unjustly. Dressed in white and accompanied by the rhythms of drum music, the five characters put on a continuing performance which involves the public.
* Olive and Bruschetta Festival in Spello
* Torcolo Festival in Fontignano – Traditional, regional cake.
* Honey Castagnola Festival in Citta di Castello – A local sweet made from honey and chestnuts.
* Carniavale in Spoleto
* Saint Valentine’s Day in Perugia
* Norcia Nero – Black truffle festival in Norcia.
* Nursino Carnivale in Norcia – Held since the 17th century and celebrated with masks, music, dancing and a fox hunt.
March
* Grandparents’ Festival in Lerchi
* Saint Ercolano’s Festival in Perugia
* La Festa degli Statuti in Fossato di Vico – Seated in one of the most ancient villages of Umbrian hill-towns, with medieval costume and medieval markets that offer foods and recipes no longer known or used.
* Cycling Tour in Montefalco – Website – Cycling tour where you touch the main Oil and Sagrantino’s cities such as Bevagna, Gualdo Cattaneo, Giano of Umbria, Massa Martana, Castel Ritaldi, Campello sul Clitunno, Trevi.
* Umbrian Wine Festival in Perugia
* Sagra della Polenta in Massa Martana – Website
* Jazz Festival in Umbertide
April
* Welcoming Spring Parade in Lama and Trevi
* Tulip Festival in Castiglion del Lago – Website – Parade of floats decorated with tulips.
* Fantasio Festival in Perugia
* Historical Easter Parade in Fossato di Vico – Enactment of the Passion of Christ.
* Mostra Anitiquariato in Bastia Umbra
* Festival di San Giovenale in Narni – Originating in the Middle Ages, this is pageantry at its brightest, when the streets are festooned with flowers and tavernas are staffed by waiters in costume, serving great platters of pasta and jugs of wine on big trestle tables. Festivities begin on the eve of the race with a torch lit procession in full costume and continue into the next day.
* Pizza festival in Citta’ della Pieve
* Parade of the Dead in Bevagna – Holy performance of the Passion. One of the most ancient parades in Italy going back to the XIV century.
* Holy Performances in Gualdo Tadino and Todi – Commemorations of the Passion of Christ.
* Festival of Saint Pellegrino in Gualdo Tadino – Folkloristic and historical commemorations of the XV century.
* Taste of Italy in Gubbio
* Vino in Piazza in Montefalco – Wine tasting from local grape varieties in the splendid scenery of the Piazza del Comune.
* Coloring Of The Skies in Castiglione del Lago – Website – International kite festival.
* Sagre di Asaparigi in Piegaro – Website
* Catamaggio in Terni – Website – The “Cantamaggio” is a festival celebrating the return of spring and the waking up of nature from the winter sleep.
May
* Palio of Saint Michele Arcangelo in Gualdo Tadino – With archers, competitions and crossbowmen.
* Festival of Saint Crispolto in Bettona – Traditional parades, popular festivals and local dishes.
* Festival di San Giovenale in Narni – Originating in the Middle Ages, this is pageantry at its brightest, when the streets are festooned with flowers and tavernas are staffed by waiters in costume, serving great platters of pasta and jugs of wine on big trestle tables. Festivities begin on the eve of the race with a torch lit procession in full costume and continue into the next day.
* Calendimaggio in Assisi – A famous festival where the medieval Assisi comes to live again.
* Festival of Saint Pasquale in Citta di Castello – Folk and religious celebrations.
* La Corsa dei Ceri in Gubbio – Traditional and spectacular ‘Race of the Candles’ on the 15th of May in Gubbio in honor of the patron St. Known as one of the most remarkable celebrations in Italy, there is the assemblage of the Ceri (candlesticks beautifully decorated in wooden constructions that can reach heights of 20 feet with weight of up to 900 pounds.
* Paglio della Balestra in Gubbio 28th May – Crossbow competition between Gubbio and Sansepolcro.
* Pane in Piazza in Corciano – Corciano bread festival between end of May and beginning of June. A few days completely dedicated to the rediscovery of the traditional way of making bread in the ancient hamlets of Umbria.
* Saint Rita in Cascia – Religious and folk celebrations.
* Racing Silk Of The Crossbows in Gubbio – Last Sunday in May – This contest of arms dating back to the XII century, is still celebrated between blasts of bugles and fluttering of flags in the evocative square Piazza Grande.
* Open Wine Cellars in Montefalco – Website – The event has been organized by the Movimento Turismo del Vino (Wine Tourism Movement) since its first year, in 1993. During the Open Wine Cellars there is the possibility to taste the Montefalco wines.
* Sagra di Umbicelli in San Venanzo
* Wines of the World in Spoleto – Website – Wine cellars among culture and art at Spoleto.
* Sagra di Fragole in Marsciano
June
* Sweet (Dolci) Festival at Rione Madonna Del Giglio near Umbertide June 5th
* Cherry Festival at Capodacqua near Assisi June 8th – 17th
* L’infiorata in Spello – Website – Preparation of the beautiful floral carpets.
* Water Festival at Piediluco in Terni province – June 28th to July 6th
* Sagra di Grano (Grain Festival) at Sant’Angelo di Celle near Deruta
* Wine festival in Montefalco – 7-10 June
* Snail Festival at Casteltodino – June 21st to July 1st
July
* Le Gaite in Bevagna – A neo-medieval fair in which the population of the four districts (gaite) dress authentically, while street stalls sell food and drink.
* Giosta Della Quintana in Foligno – A custom dating back to the 17th century where knights from ten rival districts of Foligno compete in jousting matches. The event is accompanied by plays performed in 300-year-old Umbrian dialect and a historic cooking competition, as well as other games, a fair, parades, outdoor taverns, and so on. In September the ten teams return to the field for a rematch.
* Festival di Spoleto – A five week festival placed in the stunning hilltop castled city of Spoleto performing literary and visual arts, Opera works, orchestral performances, ballet, prose readings, marionettes, concerts and film debuts.
* Crostone Festival in Strozzacapponi
* Historical Parade in Collazzone & Todi
* Torchlight Parade in Migliano
* Festival della Madonna delle Carceri in Montecastello di Vibio
* Festa del Voto in Assisi – Commemorations of Saint Chiara’s miracle (in 1241 she stopped the Saracen attack).
* Commemoration of the Battle of Trasimeno in Trasimeno
* Fish Festival in Borghetto di Tuoro
* Trasimeno Musci Festival – Runs into June. Website
* Grand Tour Jazz Festival In Terni – Website
* Hot Air Balloon Grand Prix in Todi
* Gastronomic Festival di Spoleto in Spoleto
* La Sagra del Tartufo in Giano
* Festa di Sant’Anna in Paradiso
* Umbrian Jazz Festival in Perugia – World famous jazz festival.
* Sagre delle Cozze in Citta di Castello
* Giacchio Festival in Castiglione del Lago – Lake fish festival.
* Summer Festival in Gubbio – Website
* Secret Amelia – Runs into August. Music Festival organized by the association Muse in Musica with concerts, exhibitions and tasting of peculiar recipes.
* Sagra di Gnocchi in Guardea – Runs into August.
* Trasimeno Blues Festival – Website Trasimeno Blues Festival is a summer festival started off in 1996.
* Paglio Of The Boats in Passignano sul Trasimeno – This is the commemoration of the last act of civil war in Perugia, when a small army of the Oddi family had to flee, boats on their shoulders, from the castle in Passignano, chased by the militias of the Baglioni and Della Corgna families.
August
* Forgiveness Festival in Assisi – To commemorate the indulgence received by Saint Francesco received from Pope Onorio III.
* Festa degli Amici di Montagna in Costa di Trex
* Sagra dello Spaghetto in Casacastaldo
* Paglio dei Terzieri in Citta di Castello – Website – Old festival with competitions among the archers of the different village.
* Festival of Saint Rufino in Assisi – Solemn liturgies in the cathedral and choral music concerts.
* Saint Chiara’s Festival in Assisi – Holy music concerts.
* Fuga del Bove in Montefalco – An antique race that has been run since XV century, where each neighbourhood is represented by a shepherded bull.
* Umbrian Folk Festival in Orivieto – Music, dance, food, Italian and international’s craft.
* Agosto a Montefalco in Mpntefalco – Folk and cultural celebrations.
* Barrel Race in Gualdo Tadino – In this traditional contest, a barrel weighing 6 tons is pushed by alternating teams of 20 men up a steep slope. The winning team wins a ton of wine.
* Festa di San Lorenzo in Attigliano
* Crossbow Festival of St. Rufino in Assisi – Website
* The Festival of Baroque Signs in Foligno – Runs into September. Includes the organisation of concerts, exhibitions, parades in costumes, roundabout of arms, theatrical spectacles and cinematographic exhibitions having as their core theme the “Baroque” and the influences of this artistic movement in the centuries following the 17th century.
* Sagra di Pochetto in Bachi
* Corciano Festival in Corciano – Historical performances, art, and traditional local foods.
* Sagra di Fagiole in San Giustino
September
* La Festa della Cipolla in Cannara – Website
* Giosta della Quintana in Foligno – Website – The Tournament of the Quintana, revived in 1946, is inspired by a horseback contest that dates back to the seventeenth century, to determine the order of priority for an honourable knight in his allegiance to the prince or to his ladylove.
* I Giochi delle Porte in Gualdo Tadino – Website This event is inspired by the “Pallium decurrendum” that took place (probably beginning in the 13th century) on September 29, the Feast of the Archangel Michael.
* Umbertide’s September in Umbertitde – Art, folklore, and sport competitions.
* Umbria’s Musical Festival in Perugia and other towns across Umbria – International holy music festival.
* Festa dell’Uva in S.Elena di Marsciano – Famous wine festival in Italy.
* Donkey Palio in Gualdo Tadino – Donkey races.
* Festival della Risata in Foligno – Comedy festival.
* Chiara di Dio in Assisi – Website – Runs through October. An extraordinary theater scene that brings love, devotion, humanity.
* Hand Embroidery Market in Valtopin
* Orvieto con Gusto in Orvieto – Website – Seven days between Septembere and October 2009, to celebrate the wine and gastronomic tradition of the “Made in Italy”.
* Art in The city in Perugia – Website – Runs through October.
* Todi Art Festival – Website – Todi Arte Festival is a theatre, lyric, dance and music review.
* Sagra di Patate Rosse (Red Potatoes of Colfiorito) in Foligno
* Sagra of Grapes in Montefalco
October
* Saint Francesco in Assisi – National celebrations of Saint Francesco, the patron saint of Italy.
* Palio of the Goose (Palio dell’Oca) in Citta di Castello – Racing of geese.
* Paglio Terzieri in Trevi – The manifestation is a race between three carts representing the Terzieri of which they report the respective symbolsCavalcata di Satriano in Assisi – Historical and religious commemoration of Saint Francesco’s recovery.
* Eurochocolate in Perugia – The historical centre of the capital of Umbria are full of chocolate stands and the side streets full of side events such as debates, seminars, tastings and more.
* Trasimeno Blues in Perugia
* Venti Ascensionali in Orivieto
* Mostra Mercato del Tartufo Bianco in Gubbio
* Medieval Festival, Black Celery Market, and Sausage Festival in Trevi
* Chestnut Festival in Avigliano
* National Exhibition Market of White Truffles in Gubbio – Runs into November.
* Altrocioccolato in Gubbio – Website – A festival dedicated to the solidarity’s cocoa in Gubbio.
* Sagra di Tartufo e Patate Bianco in Pietralungo
November
* Fiera dei Morti (Fair of the Dead) in Perugia – On All Saint’s Day.
* Le Vei Dell’Olio in Orvieto
* Bianco D’assagio Vini Italia in Corciano
* Mercato di Tartufo in Fabro
* Festa di Olio in Trevi – Celebrating the olive oil produced from this year’s harvest, visitors can enter the old frantoi of the town and taste the extra virgin olive oil on hot bruschette. Takes place in the first week of November 2007 in the historical centre of Trevi and is organised with the Strada dell’Olio DOP Umbria.
* Truffle and forest Products Exhibition in Citta di Castello
* Saint Martino’s Festival in Sigillo – Free samples of chestnut products and local wines.
* Antique Show in Perugia – Largest antique fair of the year for Perugia.
* Sagre di Olio in Montecchio
* Sagre di Castagna in Montecchio
* Frantoi Aperti – early November
The Frantoi Aperti takes place the first weekend of November. The doors open to several olive oil presses around Umbria offering visitors the chance to talk to producers, see how olive oil is extracted and attend seminars and guided tastings.
December
* Umbria Jazz Winter in Orvieto
* Trasimeno Blues Festival in Lago di Trasimeno
* Albero di Natale Piu Grande del Mondo in Gubbio – Website
* Li Fauni (Bells Festival) in Norcia
* Live Nativity Scene in Foligno
* National Agritourist Festival in Assisi
* Pasta Festival in Spoleto
* Feast of St. Nicholas in Bevagna
* Sagre di Olio in Paciano – First 10 days in December.