Verona Events and Festivals
(Verona, Veneto, Italy)
Verona certainly knows how to celebrate the whole year through, with entertainment coming in many forms. As well as national holidays, this historic city also enjoys a vibrant calendar of traditional local festivals and other events. Like many Italian cities, Verona also plays host to several large fairs and exhibitions, including Vinitaly.
One of the busiest months of the year is February, with plenty of things to do. It may be cold outside, but that doesn't stop Verona's streets filling with colourful crowds celebrating carnivals, festivals and related events. Nor does it dampen the enthusiasm of those revelling in this romantic city's tribute to those ill-fated lovers, Romeo and Juliet.
Verona Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015
January
- Capodanno - the first day of January sees a host of special events in and around the city, particularly at Interzona
February
- Bacanal del Gnoco - this colourful parade is part of Verona's carnival celebrations, Look out for some inventive costumes, as masked revellers process through the city. The event finishes with a gathering in Piazza San Zeno, where traditional Italian dish, gnocchi, is served
- Verona in Love - a five-day festival which is held around Valentine's Day (February 14th). It features, of course, those famous ill-starred lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Visitors can enjoy exhibitions, concerts and shows
March
- Luxury and Yachts Expo - held at Fiere di Verona during March. Get ready for the summer with a visit to this exhibition which showcases everything from surfing and water skiing to luxury yachts and motorboats
- Pasqua - the Easter weekend is celebrated with a number of events, including a Good Friday procession and, on Easter Saturday, a regatta. Easter Monday witnesses the traditional serving of pasta 'fagioli'
April
- Vinitaly - held at the Fiere di Verona, this is one of Italy's most important trade fairs. Thousands of exhibitors showcase their wares to over 150,000 visitors
May
- Schermi d'Amore - mid-May, a festival that is dedicated to romantic films, screened in the Cinema Filarmonico
June
- Verona Opera Festival - held in the atmospheric venue of Arena di Verona during June, the city is rightly proud of this hugely popular annual open-air opera festival
July
- Verona Jazz - jazz concerts are held regularly during the three weeks of this July music festival, with most of them being held in the Teatro Romano, the Mercato Vecchio and the Arena
- Shakespeare Festival - held in the Teatro Romano, this summer-long festival features performances of the Bard's work
- Garda Trention - nearby Lake Garda is the venue for Formula Windsurfing Youth World Championship
August
- Ferragoso - the Feast of the Assumption is celebrated on the 15th August each year with a variety of summer holiday events held both in the city and around Lake Garda
September
- Sagre - many of Verona's neighbourhoods celebrate this traditional festival with plenty of eating and drinking
- Marmomacc - held at the Fiera each September, Marmomacc is the city's international stone, marble and building fair
October
- Festa dell'Uva - mid-October, a few miles from the city, the neighbouring town of Bardolino celebrates fine Bardolino red wine with music concerts, fireworks, wine tastings and refreshments
- Maratona di Verona - as well as a marathon for runners, there is also a rollerblade marathon and even one for classic cars
November
- Fiera Cavalli - Verona stages a huge horse fair once a year. It has become one of the biggest events of its kind in Italy
December
- Rassegna dei Presepio and La Stella di Natale - held in the Arena di Verona every December. As well as a display of over 400 nativity scenes, this event also features a huge sculpture of a star - heralding the arrival of the Christmas festivities in the city
- Santa Lucia - mid-December, until the night Santa Lucia on the 13th December, sees the arrival of stalls selling toys, sweets and Christmas gifts in Verona's Piazza Bra