Folklore events in September in the Florence Area

The Festa della Rificolona takes place in Florence, the Tuscan capital, on September 7.

An event designed for children but with its roots in the village fairs of centuries past: the Rificolona event in Florence, held on the night of September 7–8, is linked to the fair that used to take place in Piazza Santissima Annunziata to celebrate the Nativity of Mary. It was a farming community that came to the city to sell its produce. The women, tired from working in the fields, were jokingly called fierucolone - a term that later became rificolone. Rificolone are, however, the colored paper lanterns that children now show off in the square - mainly in Piazza Santissima Annunziata.

During the Ancient Fair of Signa, a festival that takes place over several weeks (from August 28 to September 21), the town center comes alive, especially on September 4 and 5, when the Medieval Festival at Signa Castle is held. With parades, street performers and reenactments, the evening culminates with a medieval banquet and the spectacular “Burning of the Tower”, commemorating the siege by the troops of Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, in 1387, which Signa victoriously resisted. The assault is commemorated with fireworks, reenacting the burning of the Northern Tower.

Bagno a Ripoli, a few kilometers south of Florence, has its own palio: the Palio delle Contrade and Giostra della Stella (Race of the Districts and Joust of the Star), scheduled to take place on the second Sunday in September - this year it’s September 13.

The entire town participates in the Palio thanks to the little town's three districts: Cavallo, Mulino and Torre (Horse, Mill and Tower); the highlight of the day takes place at night, when the horseback riders compete in the Giostra della Stella during the traditional “provaccia”. A rampant lion holds up a star with a hole in it: the challenge is trying to insert a sort of long lance into the hole in the star while riding. The games are accompanied by a very well-attended historical parade.

An event that thrills and captivates all the residents of Impruneta, south of Florence: the Grape Festival is embraced wholeheartedly by the community and will celebrate its 100th edition in 2026 with great enthusiasm.

The municipality, which has a wine-making vocation, celebrates its most precious fruit for almost an entire month, from September 5 through 27, when the parade shows with the floats take place in Piazza Buondelmonti. Competing for the prize, are the four Districts: Pallò, Sant’Antonio, Sante Marie and Fornaci. In the midst of all this there are dinners, events, tastings, sports, historic cars and whatever else the lively people of Impruneta can think of.

A city whose primary calling is winemaking: this is how Rufina identifies with Bacco Artigiano (Artisan Bachus), the event taking place from September 24 to 27, celebrating the vocation of the area where Chianti Rufina DOCG wine is produced.

The festival, held in late September, celebrates this tradition. The most unusual event during these festive days is the Carro Matto (Crazy Cart), on which hundreds of straw-covered wine bottles are carefully piled. The ox-drawn cart travels to Florence, offering Rufina wine, which receives a traditional blessing.