August in the Italian Almanac: stories, festivals and curiosities day by day

The days of August 0

Days with a story are highlighted; on the others you still find the towns celebrating and the village of the day.

🎉 Festivals in August

Festival Happening now 📍 Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena

FestivAlContrario

📅 Every year, between July and September

A festival that lasts a whole summer — music, art, poetry and trekking, with concerts at dawn and Ligurian breakfast.

📍 Siena

Palio di Siena (of the Assumption)

📅 Every year: 2 July and 16 August

The world's most famous horse race: three laps of Piazza del Campo.

Procession 📍 Catania

Saint Agatha's Summer Feast

📅 Every year on 17 August

On 17 August Catania marks the night in 1126 when Saint Agatha's relics came home after 86 years in Constantinople. The 2026 edition celebrates the 900th anniversary of their return.

Festival 📍 Cefalù

International Folklore Festival

📅 Every year in mid-August

Folk music and dance groups from several continents perform in Cefalù's old town each summer. The 2026 edition, on 18 August, brings ensembles from Colombia, Ecuador, New Zealand, Slovakia and Hungary.

Food festival 📍 Marsala

CiancioFest

📅 Every year in late August

Four evenings of food stalls, cabaret and religion in Contrada Ciancio, in Marsala's countryside: pane cunzato dressed to order, ricotta cannoli and grilled sausage, ending with a procession and fireworks. The 2026 edition runs 20-23 August.

Food festival 📍 Mendatica

Cucina Bianca Festival

📅 Every year, in August

The shepherds' dishes of the Ligurian Alps — sugeli, streppa e caccia là, raviore — served across the village squares.

📍 Melpignano

La Notte della Taranta

📅 Late August, approximate date

Europe's biggest folk music festival: Salento's pizzica dance.

Patron saint festival In 327 days 📍 Termoli

San Basso, the saint who goes to sea

📅 Every year, on 3 and 4 August

On 3 August the statue leaves the cathedral at dawn, is loaded onto a fishing boat drawn by lot, and the procession continues at sea. At the Torre del Sinarca the bishop casts a wreath for those lost at sea.

Patron saint festival In 329 days 📍 Sirmione

Feast of Our Lady of the Snows

📅 Every year, on 5 August

On 5 August Sirmione celebrates Our Lady of the Snows, its patron, on the day furthest from snow the calendar could have picked.

Patron saint festival In 329 days 📍 Ascoli Piceno

Feast of Saint Emygdius

📅 Every year, on 5 August

On 5 August Ascoli celebrates Saint Emygdius, titular of the cathedral. It is also the month of the Quintana, the equestrian joust whose procession sets out from Piazza del Popolo.

Patron saint festival In 332 days 📍 Realmonte

Feast of Saint Dominic

📅 Every year, on 8 August

On 8 August Realmonte celebrates Saint Dominic, its patron, in the Agrigento municipality of the Scala dei Turchi.

Patron saint festival In 334 days 📍 Tivoli

Feast of Saint Lawrence

📅 Every year, on 10 August

Tivoli's patron falls on 10 August. The local calendar is busy all year, though, from the Carnival floats to the procession of the Madonna di Quintiliolo, with the flower carpet of Via Maggiore.

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