A Season of Local Festivals: Experience Venice Like a Local
Venice in summer has a thousand faces.
Some are iconic, well-known. Others reveal themselves only if you linger a little longer—exploring a quiet alley, following the sound of a guitar in the distance or the scent of something cooking over an open flame. It happens in the campi, on the islands, in the lesser-known corners of the city: it’s the season of local festivals, neighbourhood and parish celebrations that mark the rhythm of Venetian life in the warmer months.
There’s something special about these summer evenings.
You dine outdoors at long wooden tables, often next to people you’ve never met before. You sip a glass of local wine, listen to live music, and suddenly you’re part of something shared-locals and travellers alike, living the city in the same simple way. Food stalls serve traditional Venetian dishes: sarde in saor, pasta with meat sauce, fried fish, homemade cakes. Each festival has its own soul, but they all share one thing: authenticity.
If you’re planning a stay in Venice between June and September, here are a few festivals worth marking on your calendar. All of them are within walking distance or a short vaporetto ride from our apartments. And if you happen to pass by-stop. It might just become one of your most treasured memories.
2025 Festival Highlights
- May 23–25: Festa dell’Anzolo Rafael (Campo Sant’Anzolo, San Marco)
- June 7–14: Festa di Sant’Antonio in Campo San Francesco della Vigna
- June 29 – July 6: Festa di San Pietro in Volta (Pellestrina)
- July 4–7: Festa Campestre (Murano)
- July 11–20: Sagra del Pesce (Chioggia)
- July 17–26: Festa di San Giacomo da l’Orio (Santa Croce)
- July 26 – August 4: Festa della Madonna dell’Apparizione (Pellestrina)
- August 18–24: Festa del Peocio (Alberoni, Lido)
Scents, Lights, and Flavours: A Tour of Venice’s Summer Feasts
Festa de l’Anzolo Rafael
A neighbourhood celebration of music, long tables and solidarity
In the Dorsoduro district, tucked away from the usual tourist paths, one of the most genuine and heartwarming festivals of early summer comes to life: the Festa de l’Anzolo Rafael. Organised by the local association Viviamo Venezia, together with parishes and community groups, this three-day event transforms Campazzo San Sebastiano into a lively gathering of food stalls, shared tables, live music, and a rich programme of cultural events and activities for children. People eat outside, sit next to locals and students, and enjoy the true atmosphere of a neighbourhood coming together.
One of the most touching aspects of this edition is a special social reintegration initiative: people nearing the end of their prison term are involved in the organisation of the event. A simple but meaningful gesture that speaks volumes about the welcoming and communal spirit of this celebration. Expect country music, Italian pop, puppet shows for children, open-air debates and a closing raffle that always leaves smiles behind. If you happen to be in Venice on those days, don’t miss the chance to join in: it’s one of the most honest ways to discover the city at its most human.
Festa di Sant’Antonio in Campo San Francesco della Vigna
Grilled dinners under the trees and candlelit processions: the living soul of Castello
In the heart of Castello, one of Venice’s most authentic districts, this beloved neighbourhood festival returns every June: the Festa di Sant’Antonio. Now in its 25th edition, the celebration brings together local associations, scouts and volunteers to transform Campo San Francesco della Vigna into a welcoming stage for food, music and community.
On the evening of June 13, a solemn procession with the statue of the saint winds its way through the narrow calli, in a ritual still charged with meaning. But the rest of the week has its own rhythm: people gather for open-air grills, enjoy live bands under the trees, sit shoulder to shoulder with neighbours, raise a glass and share stories. It’s a simple, genuine celebration where the Venetian spirit comes through with no filters – perfect for anyone who wants to experience the city as a guest, not just as a visitor.
Festa de San Piero in San Pietro in Volta, Pellestrina
A week on the island, between devotion, fireworks and local theatre
On the long, quiet island of Pellestrina – where time seems to slow down and the lagoon meets the Adriatic – the Festa de San Piero is much more than a local fair. It’s a heartfelt tradition that blends faith, community spirit and summer celebration. Organised by the parish volunteers of San Pietro in Volta, the festival lasts a full week, with food stalls, shows, traditional plays in dialect, sports competitions and a fireworks finale.
Here, families cook the island’s beloved dishes, music drifts between colourful houses, and crowds gather to laugh at local theatre performances. Residents, holidaymakers and curious visitors all come together in a joyful, easygoing atmosphere. The funds raised go toward restoring the parish’s community spaces and supporting local activities – a way to keep the island’s social fabric strong and vibrant.
If you want to experience a different side of Venice – more intimate, more human – an evening in San Pietro in Volta during the festa is well worth the detour.
Chioggia Fish Festival
Ten nights of sea flavours: Chioggia and the taste of tradition
Chioggia is the beating heart of Venetian fishing culture, and every summer it celebrates this deep connection to the sea by turning its historic centre into one big open-air restaurant. Since 1938, the Sagra del Pesce has been one of the most anticipated folk and food events of the lagoon’s summer: ten evenings of flavours, music, local encounters and long shared tables under the lights of the city.
From 11 to 20 July, starting at 6 PM, local cooperatives set up food stalls throughout the town centre – in Campo Duomo, Piazza Granaio, the Vigo area and along Corso del Popolo. The menu features Chioggia’s most beloved traditional dishes: fried seafood with polenta, stewed cuttlefish, bibarasse in cassopipa, sarde in saor, and generous mixed grills of the freshest fish, all cooked the old-fashioned way. There’s even a cicchetteria for quick bites, and a new addition this year: “El Bocon Pi Bòn”, a culinary contest in collaboration with Slow Food.
At 9:30 PM each night, the city fills with music, theatre, and free performances, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere. It’s a festival that attracts more than 150,000 visitors each year, yet still manages to feel rooted, authentic, and community-driven. If you’re curious to taste the most delicious and down-to-earth side of the lagoon, this is your moment.
Charity Festival in Campo San Giacomo dall’Orio
Music, trees and generosity: the sagra that warms the heart
In the heart of Santa Croce, beneath the leafy shade of one of Venice’s most beloved campi, a summer tradition returns each year, bringing together festivity and solidarity: the Charity Festival of San Giacomo dall’Orio, active since 1965 thanks to the tireless work of the volunteers from the San Giacomo Benefica Association.
It all began with a simple and generous gesture — a group of friends decided to help children hospitalised at Santa Maria del Mare, and from there the festival grew. Today, it continues to support social and healthcare projects, with proceeds going to local families in need, hospitals, and non-profit organisations.
Over the course of ten days, Campo San Giacomo fills with long tables, music, and laughter. There are food stalls serving classic dishes, live concerts, tombola games, charity raffles and a whole neighbourhood that comes together. It’s one of the most heartfelt ways to experience Venice like a local — over a plate of pasta, a glass of wine, and a shared sense of purpose. If you’re in town, spending an evening here is a small gift to yourself — and to others.
Feast of the Madonna dell’Apparizione – Pellestrina
An island in celebration, between faith, rowing and traditional flavours
Pellestrina, the slender island that lies between the lagoon and the open sea, hosts one of the most heartfelt and cherished festivals in the entire Venetian archipelago: the Feast of the Madonna dell’Apparizione, which culminates on August 4, the day of the actual celebration. Organised by the Parish of Ognissanti, this event blends faith and community in a week-long programme filled with prayer, convivial gatherings, music, sport and local cuisine.
Starting from July 26, the island comes alive each evening: dinners under the stars, performances, generations coming together, and the traditional pilgrimage to the Madonna on July 29. The food stands open for dinner on July 31 and August 1, and from August 2 to 4, you can enjoy both lunch and dinner outdoors, with dishes prepared by local volunteers. The grand finale on August 4 features a prize draw and fireworks over the water.
The festival also includes the Regata di Pellestrina, with its finish line right in front of the Madonna’s sanctuary — part of the official 2025 Venetian Rowing Season. It’s a special moment of sport and tradition that rounds off an experience rooted in devotion, community spirit and the quiet charm of an island still deeply connected to its heritage.
Festa del Peocio – Alberoni, Lido di Venezia
Mussels, sunsets and sea stories: summer at Alberoni tastes different
In the heart of summer, Alberoni – at the southern tip of the Lido – becomes the stage for one of the most beloved and lively festivals of the Venetian lagoon: the Festa del Peocio, dedicated to one of the most honest and delicious staples of local cuisine – mussels (or peoci, in dialect). From August 18 to 24, the beach at Alberoni comes alive with scents, music, laughter and long shared tables, in a genuinely festive and down-to-earth atmosphere.
Organised by the Associazione Alberoni in collaboration with local groups, the festival features food stalls, funfair rides, live music and sports tournaments every day. The highlight? The dinner at Chiosco Macondo on August 19, entirely dedicated to mussels – to be enjoyed barefoot in the sand, with the sunset in the background (reservation required). On August 21 at 6:00 PM, a guided walk titled “Following the history of Alberoni” offers a glimpse into the more hidden, storied side of this strip of land between sea and lagoon.
And for the energetic, there’s the Albe-run-ada, a fun run weaving through pinewoods and alleyways before sitting down to a plate of mussel pasta or sautéed peoci, also served at the nearby Oasi delle Dune. It’s a festival that blends the light-heartedness of summer with the rich taste of tradition – all in one of the most peaceful and authentic corners of the Lido.
An open invitation (quite literally)
Sagre are open to everyone. Just walk up, choose something delicious from the food stall (prices are always reasonable), grab your tray and find a place to sit. Often, you’ll end up sharing a long table with strangers, exchanging a few words – sometimes even across languages. That’s exactly the spirit of the festa.
If you’re curious to join one of these local celebrations during your stay, write to us: we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction and suggest the one that best fits the kind of experience you’re looking for.
Because in Venice, even a simple dinner under the stars in a quiet campo can become unforgettable.
