One of the top cities to visit in Italy, Florence has some festivals worth adding to your itinerary. These are the highlights of what happens each month in Florence. Click the links below for details on these listings or to view more festivals and events. Be sure to visit the National Holidays in Italy to see what dates are holidays in Florence and throughout the country.
Florence in January
January begins on New Years Day, an Italian holiday which is a quiet day after the nightly celebrations and on January 6, also a holiday, Epiphany and the Befana are celebrated with a parade in the city center.
Florence in February
The main events in February are a chocolate fair and sometimes Carnevale, the Italian version of mardi gras, falls in this month and while Florence doesn’t have a big celebration, it does have a parade.
Florence in March
March 8 is Women’s Day, March 17 is Saint Partick’s Day and March 19 is Saint Joseph’s Day, also celebrated as Father’s Day in Italy. Sometimes Carnevale falls in March and sometimes Easter falls near the end of the month, but the most important event is the Florentine New Year, which is celebrated on March 25.
Florence in april
Florence has an unusual Easter event, the Scoppio del Carro , or the explosion of the cart, shown in the photo. Easter often falls in April, although it is sometimes in March. April 25 is a holiday for Liberation Day and at the end of the month, there is usually a Notte Bianca with many special events and museum openings until late at night.
Florence in May
May 1 is a big nationwide holiday for Labor Day and some museums, like the Uffizi Gallery, are generally closed, but there are special events and often a lot of tourists in the city. Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is a great music festival and the month ends with a gelato festival.
Florence in June
June 2 is a national holiday for Republic Day. Florence celebrates the feast day of its patron saint, San Juan, with Calcio Storico, a historic football match played in Renaissance costumes and fireworks. The FirenzEstate Summer Arts and Music Festival takes place in June.
Florence in July
The Florence summer festival continues in July and there is a dance festival. Many festivals are held in cities near Florence during the summer.
Florence in August
The traditional start of the Italian summer holidays is on August 15, Ferragosto, and during this month most of the locals head to the sea or the mountains, leaving many shops and restaurants closed for holidays, although in the tourist area many will remain. open. Events for the summer festival continue into August.
Florence in September
One of the largest and most traditional festivals in Florence, the Festa della Rificolona or Lantern Festival, takes place on September 7 and includes a lantern parade, a boat parade and a fair. Wine Town Firenze usually happens at the end of the month.
Florence in October
October is a great time to visit Florence when the tourist crowds begin to diminish and the summer heat has ended. The classical music concert season Amici della Musica begins in October and many clubs have parties for Halloween.
Florence in November
November 1 is All Saints’ Day, a public holiday. The Florence Marathon is held on the last Sunday of the month.
Florence in December
The Christmas season begins on December 8, a national holiday, and an art and food fair is usually held on this day. Throughout the month you will find Christmas markets, including a popular German-style market, as well as Hanukkah events at the beginning of the month. December 25 and 26 are national holidays.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated and edited by Martha Bakerjian.
