This weekend, several events that kicked off last weekend continue, such as the Porcino Mushroom Festival in Oriolo Romano, but new ones also begin that run through the end of September, like Grappolo d’Oro in Potenza Picena.
Wine festivals as well as events and celebrations tied to Italian regional traditions, and to some famous happenings that are part of our pop culture, such as the Franciacorta in Cantina Festival that involves an entire territory and Parva Mundi in Brescello, the renowned town of Peppone and Don Camillo. In short, there is a wide variety of must-see events.
We have selected ten (though there would be many more) that we strongly recommend you visit.
Porcino Mushroom Festival in Oriolo Romano (VT)
The weekend of September 18-20 marks the second weekend in Oriolo Romano for the Porcino Mushroom Festival, now in its XXI edition. The charming village in the Tuscia region becomes the center of the most anticipated event for gourmets. On Friday, the gastronomic booth will open for dinner from 7 PM, while on Saturday and Sunday you can eat at lunch from 12:30 PM and at dinner from 7 PM. There is also careful attention for those who follow a gluten-free diet: thanks to the Italian Celiac Association Lazio, a gluten-free menu will be available on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Every evening there will be live music, from pop to Latin-American rhythms to blues.
Tocatì – International Festival of Street Games in Verona
From September 18 to 20, the center of Verona will be the heart of Tocatì – International Festival of Street Games, now at its 24th edition with over one hundred events encompassing traditional games and sports as a cultural expression. The program also includes exhibitions and guided tours, theatrical performances and cinema, and a new section dedicated to workshops. The guest of honor will be Ireland: the streets and squares of the Veronetta district will come alive with traditional Irish games, such as Gaelic Football, Hurling, Rounders, and Poc Fada. On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, these themes will take shape through culinary demonstrations, tastings, meetings, and open discussions. The Garden of Rondella Santa Toscana transforms into a massive Irish pub.
Festival Franciacorta in Cantina
Every year the Franciacorta in Cantina Festival returns to the province of Brescia, the unmissable appointment to spend a weekend rediscovering the places where Franciacorta is born. Wineries open for visits, delicious gastronomic offerings, cultural and sporting initiatives. Three days, from September 18 to 20, 2026, to fully immerse yourself in the magical Franciacorta atmosphere where monasteries, castles and historic residences nestled among the vineyards give birth to a unique wine. A wealth of events are organized throughout the weekend by the various Franciacorta entities.
Bancarel’Miele in Mulazzo (MS)
On September 19-20, Mulazzo hosts the honey and local area festival Bancarel’Miele, an annual event dedicated to highlighting the ecosystem biodiversity of northern Tuscany. Debuted with its first edition in 2025, the event aims to promote a symbolic local product: Lunigiana DOP Honey, within a two-day program devoted to nature and beekeeping, local producers and professionals, gastronomy and slow experiences. The festival will open Saturday at 10:00 with the inauguration at the town gate and the opening of the market, followed by show cooking, tastings, and cheese tastings, mead, and honey-paired honey salami.
Agri Cultura Festival in Torrita di Siena (SI)
From September 18 to 20, the 13th edition of Torrita Biodiversità – Agri Cultura Festival takes place, the event that promotes knowledge and appreciation of animal and plant species, local agricultural traditions, and short supply chain products of Valdichiana. For three days, the Teatro degli Oscuri and the Parco Nilde Iotti will host conferences, show cooking, tastings, and in-depth moments dedicated to the relationship between farming, livestock, and environmental sustainability, with the participation of experts, producers, and local associations. Admission to all festival areas is free.
Festival della Salsiccia di Bra (CN)
From September 17 to 20, Bra hosts BRA’S, the Sausage Festival, one of Piedmont’s most emblematic culinary specialties, transforming Bra’s Zizzola, a picturesque octagonal villa on a hill overlooking the town, into a grand stage for the “Braine flavors” quartet: Bra sausage, Bra Soft and Hard DOP cheeses, Bra rice, and Bra bread. This year Recco, the gastronomic capital of Liguria, will also participate with its emblematic product, Cheese-filled Focaccia. One of the most spectacular moments is planned for Friday: to mark the centenary of the death of Margherita of Savoy, the first Queen of Italy, the city will welcome her with a procession entering in a historic carriage, greeted by city and regional authorities, amid dances, costumed figures, and flag bearers. For four days, Bra becomes a showcase of Piedmontese and Italian gastronomic excellence, merging fine dining, local products, history, entertainment, and opportunities for gathering.
Parva Mundi in Brescello (RE)
From September 18 to 20, Brescello, the home of Peppone and Don Camillo, transforms into the Festival of the Lowlands, blending music, cinema, memory, and flavors of the Great River with Parva Mundi, the festival of the “Small World.” Among squares, alleys, banks and parks, the event interweaves cinema, literature, music, wine and food, and folk traditions. On the program, the historic football match between Dinamo and Gagliarda (Friday, 6:00 PM) and the solemn procession with the blessing of the Po (Saturday, 6:30 PM), during which the talking Christ statue recalls the famous film scene in which Don Camillo confronts the elements to avert the flood. The program unfolds over three days with the lively atmosphere of old markets and a route dedicated to ancient crafts. Guided tours of museums and film sets and excursions on the Po are also included.
Grappolo d’oro in Potenza Picena (MC)
For more than sixty years, Grappolo d’Oro signals the arrival of autumn from the scenic natural terrace of Potenza Picena, the ancient Montesanto, where one can enjoy an expansive panorama stretching from the Adriatic to the Sibillini. Now in its 64th edition, the historic Potenza festival celebrating the traditional grape harvest will take place this year from Saturday the 19th to Sunday the 27th of September, eight days that involve the entire historic center which, for the occasion, becomes a large open-air theater. The program is extremely rich, featuring taverns, performances, wine and gastronomic events, a competition between districts, street artists, photography exhibitions, markets, and, as usual, lots of live music. On Saturday the 19th, the day begins with a “cultural stroll” through the streets to discover the monuments, churches, artworks, and curiosities. The evening continues at 8:30 PM in Piazza Matteotti with a “Neighborhood Dinner” featuring a themed menu and musical entertainment. On Sunday, the districts will compete in a evocative “Crush Race,” while the afternoon features “Viniland – wine and vinyl,” with DJ sets, tastings, and a vinyl market.
ForMandi in Sutrio (UD)
Autumn scents, mountain flavors and renewing traditions: on Sunday, October 18, Sutrio, the characteristic village of Carnia in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, will host ForMandi, the popular festival dedicated to one of the most precious products of the Friulian mountain, the alpine cheeses. The town will become a tasting route, where alpine cheeses and locally brewed craft beers will thread through a day dedicated to the most authentic mountain flavors of Friulian cuisine. Highlights will include the high-mountain cheese auction and a conference with eminent experts debating the possible future for these important community and regional staples. The event will begin at 10:00 with a tasting route along the town’s streets. Traditional dishes based on alpine cheese will be prepared by local restaurants and trattorias. About a dozen tasty stops.
Viterbo Open Mall in Viterbo
On September 19 and 20, from 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM, the Municipality of Viterbo presents the first edition of Viterbo Open Mall, the new Spazio Viterbo project that over 48 hours will transform the historic center into a large open-air shopping and experience route. The aim is to interpret the historic center as a true distributed mall, where the streets become the natural corridors of the route, the squares meeting places for gathering and discovery, and the commercial activities the protagonists of a single urban narrative. Seventy economic operators in the historic center have joined the project, with promotions and initiatives for the two days. Additionally, about one hundred exhibitors will participate between Piazza del Plebiscito and the Scuderie of Palazzo Papale, along with artists, craftsmen, performers, and creative realities from outside the city.
