On Saturday, 23 August 2025, Pietramala, a hamlet in the municipality of Firenzuola (FI), will host the 20th edition of the Polenta Festival. One of the events that characterises summer in Pietramala, the Polenta Festival certainly holds its own among the others. The menu, based on polenta, is substantial, but it will certainly not be unwelcome even in the height of summer: we are in fact in the heart of the Upper Mugello, not far from the regional border with Emilia, and the evenings are certainly cool. Among the dishes you can try at the festival are: polenta with meat sauce, wild boar, squacquerone cheese, stewed ribs, fried polenta and various desserts. The festival's food stands will open in the evening for dinner from 7.30 p.m. From 9 p.m., the party continues with live music. The festival is organised and hosted by the Pro Loco di Pietramala and admission is free.

From Saturday 16 to Thursday 21 August 2025, Santa Maria a Monte (PI) will host the Fried Potato Festival. As every year, the small Tuscan town celebrates its undisputed star: the Patata Tosca, the typical Santa Maria a Monte potato, with a festival full of flavours and entertainment for all ages. The programme for the Fried Potato Festival includes free admission every evening from 5 p.m. and, from 7.15 p.m., the opening of the food stands with two distinct menus: the first will fully showcase the Santa Maria a Monte potato, while the second will feature typical Tuscan products. The legendary PADELLONE, the festival's hallmark, is a must-see: potato frying will begin every evening at 6:00 p.m. Big names are coming to the stage in Santa Maria a Monte: all the events are listed in the attached poster. The Fried Potato Festival is organised by the Comitato Fiera dell'Assunta and volunteers who have been bringing this summer event to life since 1972. Free admission.

The 14th edition of the Sagra della Lepre (Hare Festival) will take place from 19 to 24 August at the Pizzeria il Platano in Gambassi Terme (FI), offering a unique opportunity to taste typical dishes based on this prized wild meat. The Gambassi Terme Hare Festival is open every evening for dinner, offering a menu full of delicious dishes. Among the dishes not to be missed are, of course, those based on hare: in particular, hare salmì among the main courses, while among the first courses, reginette with hare sauce is worth mentioning. The menu also includes: Tuscan appetisers, mixed crostini, prosciutto and popone, and reginette with roe deer. A pizzeria service is also available. On Saturday 23 August, at 9 pm, the festival will feature live music for the first time with a concert by the band Spoil Theater, with the participation of 110 BPM. The Gambassi Terme Hare Festival is organised by Club Il Cacciatore in collaboration with local volunteers.

The Sagra della Cinta Senese returns to San Casciano dei Bagni (SI). The 16th edition of the festival is scheduled for 21, 22, 23 and 24 August. There will be four evenings dedicated to one of the finest products of Tuscan and Sienese gastronomy in particular. During the festival, visitors will be able to taste products made with Cinta Senese pork, accompanied by a rich programme of music, dancing and sporting events. On Sunday 24 August, there will also be a three-way football tournament in the afternoon. The food stands at the Sagra della Cinta Senese are set up at the Municipal Stadium and open in the evening from 7pm and on Sunday also for lunch from 12pm.

The 20th edition of the Cacciucco Festival will take place from 15 to 21 August at the Parco delle Sughere in Donoratico, in the municipality of Castagneto Carducci (LI). What better opportunity to taste the fish specialities of the Livorno coast? Among these, the legendary cacciucco, to which the festival is dedicated, could not be missing. Takeaway is also available by calling 338.1347552. The event is organised by ASD Donoratico Volley, and the restaurant stand opens for dinner at 7 p.m. Every evening, there will be musical entertainment, a bar and the legendary tombola. Reservations are welcome for the restaurant and takeaway by calling 338.1347552.

The Lasciati Fiorire Festival returns to the city for the fourth consecutive year. The music festival repeats its tried-and-tested formula of three days at the end of summer and, as always, admission will be free. This year, it will change location and will be held at Lumen on 29, 30 and 31 August. The three days promise “music from the future”: the concerts will embrace different musical genres and emerging artists on the national scene. There will also be talks in collaboration with Novaradio, La CLIT, Lungarno and the sustainable markets of Only Usato, open from the afternoon onwards. From this year, the Festival will also count on the help of volunteers recruited through a special call, confirming the growing interest in the festival, which is increasingly rooted in the Florentine summer programme. The spaces at Lumen allow activities to be spread across several stages: Garden Stage and Side Stage for concerts, Ring Stage for talks and Jungle Stage for DJ sets that will close each evening. The line-up for each day includes a local project, an emerging artist of national calibre and a “big name”. Each evening, the Side Stage will be entrusted to a different local organisation that has created interesting musical events over the years, such as Flinta (inclusive open mic), Concertini (Instagram page providing information on concerts in Florence) and Pianeta Papavero (a collective of young people founded in Florence in 2019). The programme  Friday 29 August * from 6pm to 3am Ring Stage – from 6.45 p.m. Talk in collaboration with Lungarno Garden Stage – from 8.45 p.m. Lo-Fi Le Fusa live (winners of Controradio's Rock Contest 2024) Bluem live (singer-songwriter and producer born in 1995, Sardinian soul and London training) Sarafine live (winner of X-Factor 2023) Side Stage – from 8:45 p.m. giuliomaria + zoe live - curated by Concertini Jungle Stage – from midnight Fuera DJ set (the trio mixes rap, techno and psychedelic sounds) UNDERWTR DJ set (curated by Pianeta Pap  Saturday 30 August * from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. Only Used Market – from 3:00 p.m. Ring Stage – from 7:45 p.m. SETTEMINUTI special edition live & talk in collaboration with Novaradio Garden Stage – from 9:15 p.m. Yaraki live (R&B artist born in 1999 of Italian-Brazilian origin) Studio Murena live (jazz rap group with an experimental style) Side Stage – from 9.15 p.m. Jamila + Violet live - curated by Flinta Jungle Stage – from 11.30 p.m. Lorenzo BITW DJ set (talented DJ and producer in the funky, garage and grime genres) Dexter b2b Arrow DJ set (Collettivo59100) Sunday, 31 August * from 3 p.m. to midnight Only Used Market – from 3 p.m. Yoga at sunset – from 6 p.m. Ring Stage – from 6:45 p.m. Talk in collaboration with La CLIT and Novaradio Garden Stage – from 8:45 p.m. Grandi Raga live (band from Arezzo fresh from participating in the MI AMI Festival) Marte live (new voice of Italian rap) Faccianuvola live (electronic pop singer-songwriter born in 2002) Side Stage – from 8:45 p.m. Fiabba + MilleAlice live - curated by Pianeta Papavero For updates, follow the Instagram page lasciatifiorire_festival

The 244th edition of the Antica Fiera di Lastra is scheduled to take place in the historic centre of Lastra a Signa (FI) from 29 to 31 August 2025. A rich programme with over 20 live events including concerts and shows, an animal farm, markets, street food, an exhibition of vintage Vespas and cars, carriage rides, falconry shows, fire-eating shows, dancing and sporting events, and much more. The event will open with a welcome from the mayor and the reading of the ancient edict by Alessandro Calonaci, with the participation of the Misericordia di Malmantile band and a performance by the flag throwers. The Fair will conclude on Sunday with a fireworks display. Admission is free.

On Saturday, 6 September, in Scarperia (FI), in the picturesque setting of Piazza dei Vicari, the eagerly awaited Renaissance Dinner – Dinner with the Vicar returns, a unique journey through time that combines ancient flavours and performances from times gone by in a magical atmosphere. Starting at 8:00 pm, the evening will offer a gastronomic experience curated down to the smallest detail by Maitre Messer Giacomo Fontani and chef Messer Luigi Incrocci, with a refined menu inspired by Renaissance cuisine. It starts with a pumpkin pie, smoked pecorino cheese and amaretti biscuits, followed by a legume soup, sweet and sour chicken livers and walnuts, then stuffed pheasant accompanied by dried fruit and vegetables from the sharecropping farm, and finally a blancmange dessert with coconut and salted caramel, all accompanied by spring water and good wine. The dinner will be enlivened by a rich programme of live entertainment with the flag throwers and musicians of Castel San Barnaba, the falconer of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, fire and juggling performances with Karacongioli and the elegance of the noble ballad singers of San Barnaba. The cost is £35 for adults and £20 for children under 13; reservations are required by 1 September with a deposit of €20 to be paid in cash or by bank transfer. For information or reservations, call 055 8468165, email informazioni@prolocoscarperia.it or send a WhatsApp message to 353 4364738.

From 7 to 17 August, Castellina in Chianti (SI) will host the latest edition of Calici di Stelle. During the week of the night of San Lorenzo, Castellina organises a rich programme of activities and events, from evenings of music at the Chianti Archaeological Museum to walks through the vineyards at sunset, tasting evenings, dinners, street food, DJ sets and games evenings for young and young-at-heart alike. All the details can be found in the attached poster. The event is organised by the Municipality and the tourist office of Castellina in Chianti. https://www.comune.castellina.si.it/it/eventi/calici-di-stelle-20-anniversario

The Sagra del Cunigliolo Fritto (Fried Rabbit Festival) returns to La Serra, a hamlet of San Miniato (PI), for its 21st edition. The event will be held every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7 to 31 August, including Ferragosto (15 August). The highlight of the summer in Serra, the festival offers a delightful menu with various local specialities, the most appetising of which is, of course, fried rabbit. Other specialities will also be available, such as Tuscan appetisers, pappardelle al cunigliolo, cunigliolo alla contadina and grilled veal steak. Of particular note is the use of local products, such as wine, oil and vegetables. All suppliers are from the municipality of San Miniato or neighbouring areas such as Cuoio and Empolese Valdelsa. The event is organised by the Circolo ARCI La Serra, which is very active in organising festivals throughout the year. The food stands, set up in the club's pavilion, will remain open in the evening for dinner. www.lesagredelaserra.com FB lesagredelaserra email lesagredelaserra@gmail.com For information and reservations, call 3391639542