Looking for Festivals similar to the Calendimaggio in Assisi

Posted by exley on 06/28/25 04:50 PM

Hello fellow travelers,

One of the best travel experiences I've ever had was when my wife and I spent a week in Assisi for the Calendimaggio festival. It's a four-day pageant that takes over the entire town. It's a mix of theatrics, music, and fireworks. Special food and beer halls open during the week and they even televise it on the local tv channel. I'd love to know of any other events of a similar nature. The closest I can find is the Palio de Siena which Rick has featured in a few episodes. And even though this is an Italian post, I'd be curious about recs of a similar note elsewhere in Europe like Spain or France.

Thanks!

Posted by Jean

Idaho, USA

06/28/25 06:04 PM

8536 posts

Hi, I have attended these festivals in Italy. See if any of these appeal to you. (And I am planning to be at Asti for their Palio this year.)

Arezzo - jousting festival. It is twice yearly. It’s an all-day event.

Pisa - Luminara di San Ranieri on June 16 each year. 70,000 wax candles are the only illumination on the river, plus some fireworks at the end.

Bari - San Nichola Segesta is May 7-9 each year. I’ve attended this one twice. Besides the religious focus & processions, there’s street fair food along the promenade, fireworks a couple of nights, music, etc.

Other festivals in Italy I enjoyed but not the atmosphere you’re requesting:
Venice - Regatta Storica
Spello - Infiorate
Stresa - Stresa Music Festival
Grosseto - a night misc. local festival

Posted by exley OP

06/28/25 06:23 PM

40 posts

This is great, I can't wait to do some investigating. Thank you so much! By the way, if you haven't been to the Calendimaggio, please check it out. It happen in Mid May.

Posted by Nancy

Corvallis OR

06/28/25 08:23 PM

7236 posts

These may lean more towards music and theater but also with a general festival atmosphere: Avignon, France theater festival (July), Salzburg, Austria festival (July). Then there's: Carnival in Cologne, Germany (Feb), Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland (Aug), Frankfurt, Germany Apple Wine festival (Aug), and of course can't forget Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany (Sep-Oct).

Posted by Barbara

Brooklyn, NY

06/28/25 11:01 PM

4583 posts

Exley,
We will be in Assisi next May for the festival could you tell us a little more detail such as where on-line did you purchase tickets, how far in advance, etc.

Posted by exley OP

06/28/25 11:37 PM

40 posts

Hi Barbara,

Basically, the festival is a giant pageant that happens in the main square. They set up bleachers on one side that face the stage, as if you were going to a parade. You have to have bleacher seats to attend and I highly recommend buying them early. An elaborate story is told in the course of six 'plays'. One each afternoon and then another at night over three days. Each one is different. But it's a spectacle that literally the entire town participates in. You will see hundreds of people in amazing costumes and moving giant set pieces. And fire, a lot of fire and pyrotechnics at night. When you walk around town during the morning, every street is filled with people building sets, trying on costumes, etc. It's nuts. We got lucky. We got great upper center seats on the bleachers and then booked an Airbnb only a block from the square.
This is the site where you book the seats. There's no info now since this year's festival just happened.
https://www.calendimaggiodiassisi.com/
This site has a good overview of the event-
https://www.amoitaly.com/assisi/calendimaggio.html

Good luck!