Grassina White Night

The Grassina White Night

The Grassina White Night is the summer event that, in the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli, keeps the namesake hamlet nestled on the first hills of the Florentine Chianti, in Tuscany, awake until late. For one evening, the Via Chiantigiana and the town center are cleared of cars and filled with people: the regional road is closed to traffic and becomes the natural stage for a large, widespread festival, with shops staying open late and illuminated windows framing the evening.

An event by the merchants for the town

The event was born from the initiative of the CCN Grassina (the Natural Shopping Center) and its shops, with the patronage of the municipal administration of Bagno a Ripoli. It is one of those festivals where the commercial fabric of a town comes together to animate its community: shopkeepers offer evening openings, discounts, and initiatives, while performances and entertainment for all ages alternate along the street. Alongside the merchants, numerous local entities collaborate, including the Amici del Cipo, the Fratellanza Popolare di Grassina, and the VAB of Bagno a Ripoli.

What to see and do

The program focuses on variety and the popular dimension of the event. Typical offerings of the evening include:

• Fashion and hair show, with the town's shops and hairdressers as protagonists along the street;
• Live music and entertainment, with bands and performances ranging from tributes to great Italian hits to music to enjoy while strolling;
• Children's games, with inflatables and wooden games organized by Ingegneria del buon Sollazzo;
• Art auction featuring paintings created by young people from the Spazi Espressivi project;
• Street food and open shops for dining and strolling until late at night.

Atmosphere and context

The Grassina White Night is, first and foremost, a community festival: no big names or monumental stages, just the authentic dimension of a town meeting in the street. Grassina, the gateway to the Chianti region just a few kilometers from Florence, offers the ideal setting for a summer evening outdoors, among hills, vineyards, and the bustling village. The formula, replicated several times throughout the summer with themed evenings, is now a highly anticipated event by the residents of Bagno a Ripoli and the surrounding areas, who take advantage of the road closure to reclaim the town's spaces.

When it takes place

The event takes place in the evening, with the closure of the Via Chiantigiana and the setup of the center to welcome visitors and families. Throughout the summer, multiple repeats are planned with different programs and themes, renewing the appointment and offering something new each time to those who return to stroll through the streets of Grassina.