First weekend of October: what to do in Florence and surroundings (30 September, 1 and 2 October)
Exhibitions, fairs, markets, festivals, the Japanese autumn festival and much, much, much more. Our guide for an unforgettable weeknd.
Steak party
If you love steak do not miss the event at the Ultravox Arena dedicated to the Florentine: The steak festival. 12 meters of grill and 8 of the steak at work to serve you the queen of Tuscan cuisine. Meetings with Tuscan farmers, chefs and nutritionists are also scheduled at the Festival. And again, the masterclasses by the Accademia della Fiorentina, shows and initiatives on the subject.
Bright night
The appointment with Bright Night is in Piazza della Santissima Annunziata on Friday 30 September, starting at 5pm and until midnight. An exhibition area will be set up in the historic square where researchers from theUniversity of Florence and partner research organizations will talk about their projects. The public will thus be able to get to know, among the many proposals, biomedical robots and sensors, drones for civil protection, an underwater robot and the racing car designed by the students of the Firenze Race Team. But also to realize how much water we consume in a day and what are the recommended behaviors in the event of an earthquake. Or even simply visualize the conversion of light into electricity by understanding the principle of operation of solar cells.
In addition to the activities in the square, on the afternoon of September 30, it will also be possible to visit the Museo degli Innocenti for free, which will organize mini visits to some of the masterpieces in the collection.kids area with a selection of proposals for the youngest and the meeting space, with a very rich and lively program.
Special Run Life
On Sunday, one of the most anticipated events in the city is back. Corri la vita was supposed to take place on 25 September, but for the elections it was postponed to 2 October. HERE for all the information on the race.
The exhibition of autumn flowers
One of the most anticipated events in the city is back in Florence: the Autumn Flowers and Plants Market Show. The event will take place from 30 September to 2 October at the city’s Horticultural Garden (entrances from Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 4 and from Via Bolognese 17).
International Biennial of Antiques
Until 2 October, at Palazzo Corsini, it will be possible to visit the International Biennial of Antiques in Florence. A unique event of its kind that every year brings the best antique dealers, gallery owners and collectors to the city. Some works have been purchased from the Uffizi Galleries. HERE for all the information. HERE to discover the news and the Metaverse.
Sunday with free admission to museums
Like every first Sunday of the month, even in Florence and its surroundings the state museums will be free for everyone, while those of the municipality of Florence will be free only for residents of the metropolitan city. HERE to discover all the events, for adults and children, in the program.
Grape Festival
From September 3rd to October 8th the Grape Festival returns to Impruneta. The culmination of the event will be on 2 October, but throughout September in Impruneta it will be time for fun, dinners, parties and much more on the occasion of the 96th edition of the beloved event.
Japanese autumn festival: Akimatsuri
“Akimatsuri” is the name of the festivals that in Japan are dedicated to the colors of autumn and to thanks for the good harvest: on 1 and 2 October the new season will also be welcomed in Florence with a party organized by the Iroha Association. On the program a market with Japanese products, writing courses, exhibitions on Japanese arts or of course you can taste dishes of home cooking.
Discovering the Via Francigena
A beautiful week to discover the Via Francigena. A unique weekend that will allow those who wish to go for walks, trekking, horseback riding, taste and buy products at the food and wine market and then again take part in games and workshops. All this is scheduled from Friday 30 September to Sunday 2 October in Castelfiorentino. The event is called “The Via Francigena in Valdelsa, between dream and legend” and allows you to revisit the ancient route traveled by pilgrims in the Middle Ages and immerse yourself in a magical atmosphere of other times.
Festival of mushrooms and fried food
This weekend in Florence the first edition of the Fried mushrooms and fried food festival, organized at the ASD of the US Affrico. The menu ranges from traditional first courses (tagliatelle with porcini, mugellani tortelli with red ragù with porcini and amatriciana) to the classics of the farmyard fried (chicken, rabbit and potatoes and fried vegetables) and seafood and much more.
The Crazy Cart
In Florence they call it the Carro Matto. “Because when the Bacchus Artisan parades everyone is amazed to see this magnificent cart, pulled by oxen, with many flasks of wine stuffed by and Rufina’s volunteers that crosses the historic center of the city”: this is how the president of Calcio Storico Fiorentino and special adviser for Popular Traditions, Michele Pierguidi, tells of this tradition that so much ignites the curiosity of tourists and onlookers. The appointment is Saturday 1 October in Florence. HERE for all the details.
The ceramics fair
90 ceramic workshops from all over Europe; educational workshops for children and the presentation of the book of good practices “Sustainable Ceramic Daily” published by LEF, all in the name of circular economy and environmental sustainability. This and much more will be the 23rd edition of the International Ceramics Fair, scheduled in Florence in the first weekend of October. An exhibition in which it will be possible to buy ceramic products directly from those who think and make them.
Olafur Eliasson at Palazzo Strozzi
The exhibition visible at Palazzo Strozzi is the largest ever created in Italy by Olafur Eliassion and allows you to immerse yourself in his artistic world through a wide overview of works from his thirty years of activity, but also through new works designed specifically for Palazzo Strozzi. Often using elementary materials such as light, water and fog, Olafur Eliasson is famous for an art that reflects on the idea of perception and in which the viewer is at the center of the experience as an active protagonist. HERE to see the video of the exhibition.
Tony Cragg at the Museo Novecento
One of the greatest exponents of contemporary sculptural art, Tony Cragg, is the protagonist of an interesting exhibition hosted in the Museo Novecento and at the Istituto degli Innocenti. The exhibition, named Transfer, presents a selection of sculptures and works on paper by the English master, known above all for having contributed to a renewal of the plastic language thanks to the introduction of new materials and new techniques, among the most experimental and innovative of the our time.
“Passion of the Twentieth Century by Paul Klee and Damien Hirst”
Palazzo Medici Riccardi from 24 September 2022 to 8 January 2023 will host the exhibition “Passione Novecento from Paul Klee to Damien Hirst. Works from private collections”. The exhibition will feature works by Giorgio de Chirico, Giorgio Morandi, Alberto Savinio, Arturo Martini, Fausto Melotti, Lucio Fontana, Alberto Burri, Paul Klee, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Louise Burgeois, Alighiero Boetti, Daniel Buren, Damien Hirst, Cecily Brown, Ai Weiwei, Tracey Emin and others.
Fat-Bus sausage and the Trans Formam exhibition at the Poggiali Gallery
September 30th will be the last day to enjoy one of the hot-dogs baked by the Salsiccia – Fat Bus in Santa Maria Novella, For those interested in discovering the art of Erwin Wurm, creator of the sausage bus, you should not miss Absolutely the exhibition at the Poggiali Gallery “Trans Formam”. The exhibition contains the artist’s iconic works that consist of completely transformed everyday objects such as Big Kiss, the sausages that cling to a kiss.
Festival of Tortelli and truffle specialties
At the end of the month, in Pelago, the appointment with the Tortelli Festival and truffle specialties returns. The menu includes some of the most famous typical dishes of the area, such as tortelli and truffle-based specialties.
Fair in viale Europa
After the summer, the appointment with the great Fair in Viale Europa returns. There will be stands with household products, clothing, footwear, linen, costume jewelery, typical food and wine products, the brigidini of Lamporecchio, porchetta and much more.
Fierone of Campo di Marte
On Sunday the best selected stalls in Tuscany among clothing, objects and street food will meet in Florence. Street band performances are also scheduled at the Fierone di Campo di Marte.
All Spouses
If you are organizing your wedding, you are looking for original ideas for the party or you are simply a lover of everything that is part of the world of marriage, you cannot miss the opportunity to visit the most important fair in the sector in central and northern Italy. . The Fortezza da Basso shines again thanks to Tutto Sposi.
The October festivals not to be missed in Florence and its surroundings