From village squares, small towns, and landscapes that look toward the sea or the mountains, autumn invites us to come together. In Liguria, festivals and patron saint celebrations accompany the season with opportunities to share moments. October calendars highlight regional products and flavors tied to the period. An invitation to discover towns at the gentle pace of celebrations.
The Ligurian calendar offers a range of events, from the Pentema Chestnut Festival on October 4 to Bonjour Provence et la France in Genoa, October 15–19. On October 24, in Rapallo, the Chocomoments, the festival of artisan chocolate arrives: three occasions to experience autumn celebrations in Liguria.
Where to Experience October in Liguria, Among Festivals and Flavors
- Pentema Chestnut Festival – Torriglia (GE), October 4, 2026.
The traditional Pentema Chestnut Festival offers roasted chestnuts and chestnut cake baked in a wood-fired oven, accompanied by dances and music with a shawm and accordion. - Patronal Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary – Zoagli (GE), October 4, 2026.
In Zoagli, the Madonna of the Rosary is celebrated with religious services and a traditional procession that winds through the streets of the town. - Earth Market of Cairo Montenotte – Cairo Montenotte (SV), October 10, 2026.
Monthly market in Piazza della Vittoria with about 40 producers from the Val Bormida, Riviera di Ponente, and the Low Piedmont, where one can find vegetables, Ligurian olive oil, cold cuts, cheeses, fish, and other local products. - Bonjour Provence et la France – Genoa (GE), October 15–19, 2026.
In Piazza Matteotti returns “Bonjour Provence et la France,” an event dedicated to French artisanal, gastronomic, and tourism excellences, with particular attention to Provence. - Saint Felice Festival, tradition between past and present – Santo Stefano di Magra (SP), October 17–18, 2026.
The Saint Felice Festival, dating back to the eighteenth century, commemorates the relocation of the saint’s relics with an agro-food market that promotes local enogastronomy and Ligurian hospitality. - Chestnut Festival 2026 in Bargagli – Bargagli (GE), October 18, 2026.
In Bargagli the Chestnut Festival offers autumn specialties, live music, and a treasure hunt, followed by roasted chestnuts, hot chocolate, and mulled wine. The menu includes chestnut trofie with pesto, polenta, sausages, fried potatoes, and dessert. - Chocomoments, the festival of artisan chocolate – Rapallo (GE), October 24, 2026.
The Artisan Chocolate Festival features pralines, bars, creams, liqueurs, and chocolate-fruit pairings, with a marketplace displaying the creations of master chocolatiers. - Chestnut Roasting and Mostardella Festival in Vobbia – Vobbia (GE), October 24, 2026.
In the Vobbia sports area, the Chestnut Roasting and Mostardella Festival returns, a autumnal event in the Scrivia Valley featuring numerous activities and strong community participation. - Chestnut Festival in Velva – Castiglione Chiavarese (GE), October 25, 2026.
In Velva the festival offers chestnut-based specialties and fritters. The program also includes museum openings and visits and excursions to the eco-museum, organized by the Veleura Association.
