Prato is putting its best foot forward for the second edition of Prato è Spettacolo, a 17-day festival designed to dazzle. Featuring music, sports, workshops, foodie events and activities for children and teens, the multifaceted program offers something appealing for all ages. Most of the more than 50 events and initiatives planned offer free entry.
Consider these festivities the “grand finale” of Pratese summer, as they launch on September 1, just before the curtain falls on the season. What better prep for rientro than a city-wide party?
Given the still-balmy September weather, many of the main events will be held outdoors.
One of the new additions this year is a children’s activity space in piazza Santa Maria in Castello, open from September 2 to 11. Another open-air event will be the first Finger Food Festival, pairing live music with lip-smacking snacks and taking place in the gardens of piazza Mercatale. Mangiate con le mani!
Nearby, sports fiends will have their fun in the Arena di Piazza Mercatale, which will host four matches of the traditional Palla Grossa game, a very Pratese form of football, along with a Brazil-Italy faceoff of beach soccer.
Undisputed highlights of this year’s edition, however, are the many big-name musicians in the festival lineup—all performing against the picturesque backdrop of piazza del Duomo. The music starts with Gianna Nannini’s first-ever Prato performance on September 1; on September 2, indie moves into the limelight as Verdena and Marlene Kuntz share the stage.
Goran Bregovic and the Wedding and Funeral Band (September 3), Sicilian singer Carmen Consoli (September 4) and Elio e le storie Tese (September 5) will also perform before the piazza gets a “French touch”—from Air, inventors of that genre, who will put on a highly anticipated September 6 show.The downtempo Versailles duo has announced Prato as the only Italian city on their worldwide tour. Just a few short months after their big-ticket performance at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound, and the subsequent release of their new album Twenyears, they’ll bring their singular blend of space rock, psych-pop and electronic music to Prato.
Concertgoers and festival participants will have numerous chances to snag discounts and deals at area restaurants, hotels and museums (including the Museo del Tessuto and Palazzo Pretorio.)
September 1–17
FB: Settembre // Prato è Spettacolo
Info: 0574/603376