Italy Festivals guide:
Being a Catholic nation, Italy has religious events throughout out the year but particularly at Christmas and Easter. There is also no shortage of local celebrations, historic events and art festivals, especially in the summertime.

January: Fair of Sant'Orso in Aosta

February - March: Carnevale [Carnival],  Venice is the most extraordinary for its costumes, atmosphere, and huge crowds. Viareggio [Tuscany] , Ivrea [Piedmont], and Arcireale [Sicily] are also good. Feast of the almond-blossom in Agrigento - Feast of St. Agata in Catania 3/4/5 Feb.

Easter: Lo Scoppio del Carro, [Explosion of the Cart], fireworks display on Easter Sunday in Florence at the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore.

May:  Sagra di Sant'Efisio in Cagliari, more than 100 local cultural groups parade in authentic medieval costumes, during the day, and at night the streets and squares fill up with songs, shows and performances of all kinds; Cocullo L'Aquila, the Festival of Snakes to celebrate Saint San Domenico;  Bari, Festa di San Nicola, this annual festival in Bari commemorates the arrival by sea of the body of Saint Nicholas. Events include fireworks, historical parades, concerts and special masses;   Corsa dei Ceri, [Candle Race in Gubbio, Umbria], a bizarre medieval event held annually, with a group of men carrying three 'ceri' [20 ft wooden pillars] and racing up to the Basilica;  "Cavalcata sarda" in Sassari,  spectacular cavalcade  with 3000 horsemen from all over the province parading in their traditional costumes.

June: Orvieto,[Umbria],  Annual Corpus Christi procession and customed parade through the narrow streets of Orvieto.  Flower festival in Genzano ;  Florence  Calcio in Costume [Historical soccer game] and parade; Festa di San Ranieri in Pisa ;    Gioco del Ponte in Pisa [Battle of the Bridge]

Mid June-August: Verona Opera Season takes place in the Arena, a huge Roman theater and is perhaps the best-known open air opera in the world. Fantastic performances in a fantastic environment. 

Early-July and mid Aug:  Siena's Palio, a mad, medieval bare-back horse race in the 12th C piazza,  Colorful and crowded; "Festa del Redentore" in Venice; Quintana tournament in Ascoli Piceno; "Jousting tournament" in Arezzo. 

Late-Aug: Venice Film Festival, the world's oldest international film festival;
The Bravio delle Botti is a barrel rolling contest between the eight districts of the tiny Tuscan village of Montepulciano. The  contenders roll empty wine barrels through the narrow streets up to the cathedral in Piazza Grande.

September: "Macchina di S. Rosa" in Viterbo;  La Regata di Venezia [Venice regatta], historic gondola race along the Grand Canal, with people in medieval costumes;  Chess Game in Marostica;  "Palio" in Asti horse race

Oct: Olive Oil  & Vintage Festivals [Nationwide but especially in Tuscany & Umbria]; Grape feast in Merano

Nov: Feast of the Madonna della Salute in Venice

Dec: Franciscan crib in Greccio, [Umbria]