Olmo Steak Festival

An Arezzo tradition that smells of charcoal

The Olmo Steak Festival is one of the most cherished summer culinary events in the Arezzo area, in the heart of the Valdichiana, Tuscany. Its roots date back to the early seventies, when the festival was born as an opportunity for the residents of Olmo and surrounding areas to gather for a community event. Since 2001, the event has officially taken the name of Steak Festival, and since then, it has become one of the most important village fairs in the Arezzo province, attracting thousands of visitors and Tuscan cuisine enthusiasts every year.

Where and when

The festival takes place at the Olmo sports field, a hamlet of the Municipality of Arezzo managed by G.S. Olmoponte, over two weekends in July. Admission is free: you only pay for what you consume at the stalls. The atmosphere is that of an authentic village fair, with outdoor tables, the scent of meat on the grill, and music until late at night.

The steak, queen of the festival

The signature dish is naturally the grilled steak, cooked by volunteers on large open grills. Alongside it, the menu offers great traditional classics: tagliata, sausages, maccheroni (tagliatelle), and pizza, all accompanied by local wines. The food stalls open every evening at 8:00 PM, offering the chance to dine together in a highly convivial atmosphere.

Music, dancing, and the Giostra dei Rioni

Every evening continues with live ballroom dancing starting at 9:30 PM, with alternating orchestras and singers livening up the dance floor until late. The most anticipated moment is the Giostra dei Rioni, a challenge between the historic districts of Olmo: Rione La Ripa, Rione Olmo Alto, Rione Olmo Basso (or Centro), and Rione Sant'Anastasio - Madonna di Mezzastrada compete for victory in a fun-filled competition that involves the entire community.

A charitable festival

Since 2008, the event has been organized by the Steak Festival Committee, born from the sports group: the proceeds from the festival are donated to social utility activities for the village of Olmo. Participating in the festival thus means not only enjoying the best grilled meat in the Province of Arezzo but also concretely supporting the life of the village.

Why attend

• Grilled steak and Tuscan specialties cooked by volunteers
• Free admission and genuine village fair atmosphere
• Live ballroom dancing evenings with orchestras
• The spectacular Giostra dei Rioni of Olmo
• Just a few minutes from the historic center of Arezzo