Here’s our round-up for August 31 to September 7, 2023.
From contemporary circus and Liu Bolin (the “invisible man”) in Palazzo Vecchio to the Rificolona festival and gardening galore, here’s your best events of the week line-up. Make sure to take advantage of free-entry to many museums on September 3 as part of the Domenica Metropolitana initiative!
Share your events with The Florentine: events@theflorentine.net
7 September 2023 - 17 September 2023
The popular contemporary circus festival returns, with this year’s theme aptly being Eclettica. The “tribute to the incredible and multifaceted essence of human beings” manifests itself in ten days of contemporary international circus, concerts, world music, DJs, workshops, performances, coffee with the artists, a bar and food trucks in a fun-filled line-up that sees all kinds of everything.
Seek the internationally renowned artist Liu Bolin among pictures of well-known Florentine sites. Known as “the invisible man”, Bolin blends himself into the instantly recognizable backdrops using body paint.
A quality gardening market exhibition in its 22nd edition comes to Lucca from September 1-3. All things flowers and plants are discussed and displayed in various sites in Lucca, with over 200 exhibitors spanning the plant world.
Teatrino dei Fondi hosts a theatre programme for little ones with workshops, shows, meetings with performers, games and more for the first edition of the festival. Held in the Isolotto district, all events are free with reservations required for workshops.
Thursdays at the 25hours Hotel in piazza San Paolino are hopping with ‘Live at 25’: live music and DJs take to the outdoor courtyard from 7pm to 10pm/10.30pm for an evening of tunes in the chill setting. On Wednesdays, there’s a special offer on drinks: for the month of September, it’s Tequila! Aperitivi at the Alimentari dining space resumes on Fridays and Saturdays from 6-9pm (starting from September 8).
On September 7, Florentines flood into piazza Santissima Annunziata to celebrate the festival marking the birth of the Virgin Mary. The religious feast day sees children wield store-bought or handmade lanterns, reminders of when country-folk would make long walks into the city to pray and also sell products following the summer harvest. The popular traditional chant of Ona ona ona what a beautiful rificolona will be heard sung by all, with workshops held by Heyart in Giardino dell’Orticoltura on September 6 (info.heyart@gmail.com) and the official celebrations outlined at comune.fi.it.
Ancient grains, breadmaking and a short supply chain are at the heart of the bread-based fair in piazza Santissima Annunziata. With workshops and shows, organic farming is to the fore from 9am to 7pm across the two days, with farmer-bakers from all over Italy presenting their best bakes. Free courses in natural breadmaking are bound to entice cooking enthusiasts, with traditional music and more adding to the occasion.
150 giant colourful animals run rife across the Barberino Designer Outlet in an open-air exhibition by Cracking Art. The works made from regenerated plastic will be placed along the river and all over the centre in tribute to the nature in which the centre is immersed. The free entry show is the perfect chance to take advantage of the great offers while enjoying the contemporary art creatures. Pick up a map at Guest Services to take part in the treasure hunt, with a sweet surprise awaiting you!
Three days of concerts, dance schools, vintage clothing, antiques, tattoos, vintage cars and barber shops take to the Ultravox venue in Cascine Park with free admission. Bands like Blasco & His Bottle Rockets are followed by the Basement Boppers, with Zako’s surf garage and Johnny Clash alternating with the western swing of the Lovesick Duo and the honky tonk of the Rockin’ Bonnie Western Bound Combo.
On September 3, get to Hard Rock Cafe Firenze to view the Red Bull Racing F1 live-streaming from Monza. A dedicated racing menu revs things up a gear, with onion piston rings, turbocharged classic nachos and tailgate tupelo chicken tenders putting a pun spin on things. Follow it up with a special Killer Queen dinner with concert from 8pm on September 5, with booking online. The rocking menu stars hits like ‘A kind of magic’ legendary burger, the ‘Want to break free’ spicy diablo burger, and, of course, the ‘We are the champions’ Messi burger.
Art, music, theatre, dance, workshops and more merge in this free-admission festival as part of the Estate Fiorentina programme. Experimentation is at the heart of this cultural affair with local emerging musicians performing alongside nationally-known artists. Carpentry workshops feature as well as yoga and Kintsugi, making it one not to miss.
Until September 20
Former Irish top model Jean O’Reilly Barlow of Interi presents an exhibition on the history of Spolvero with Florence University of the Arts. The 18th and 19th century prints used to create fresco designs and wall art have been transferred onto canvas through the giclée method (available to purchase), with the originals also on display framed with antique wood moldings and precious gems.
Pop rock icon Skin, the lead singer of London band Skunk Anansie, performs an exclusive DJ set of indie rock, house and electro sounds at Villa Vittoria on September 7 (free entry with a mandatory drink). In further events news, the venue kickstarts a new LGBTQUIA & Friends evening every Tuesday starting from September 5.
Tenuta Vignamaggio nestled in the Chianti hills host everything from Christmas card making to wreath workshops, with the chance to craft your own festive centrepiece and even cyanotype botanical workshops ...
Are you a small business or team looking for the perfect way to celebrate the festive season? At Hard Rock Cafe Florence, in the spirit of ‘All is One’ and ...
The Art of Style, created by Lady Kendra, is a space where art, fashion, wellness, and personal transformation come together. The gallery is designed as an immersive experience, from rotating ...
A 6km (2 hour) walk in the footsteps of the early 20th century Anglo-Florentines takes you to discover the Edwardian community of Florence when it was “more English than England”. ...
