San Lorenzo Festival

The Patron Saint's feast of Gatteo

The San Lorenzo Festival is the patronal feast of Gatteo, a municipality in the province of Forlì-Cesena in Emilia-Romagna, dedicated to Saint Lawrence the Martyr, the town's patron saint. Every year, on the days around August 10th, the historic center transforms into a large open-air stage: the streets and squares of the village host artists, music, comedy, and moments of conviviality for three consecutive evenings, involving residents and visitors of all ages.

Three evenings of shows and tradition

The program intertwines the religious and popular dimensions. The spiritual heart of the feast is the solemn Mass dedicated to Saint Lawrence, celebrated in the square in front of the Parish Church, while the evenings are filled with live music of various genres, comedy shows, and cabaret. There is also entertainment and workshops for the little ones, exhibitions and displays set up in the center's spaces, as well as guided tours that tell the story and origins of the territory.

• Live music in the square on the evenings of the feast
• Comedy shows and cabaret with guests from the national scene
• Entertainment and children's market organized by the municipal library
• Exhibitions and guided tours in the historic center spaces
• Food stalls with traditional Romagna specialties
• Fireworks display to close the event

Taste and Romagna identity

Like any Romagna village feast, the San Lorenzo Festival also makes food a protagonist: the food stalls offer local specialties, from piadina to traditional first courses, accompanying the evening stroll among music and markets. The feast represents one of the most heartfelt moments of the Gatteo summer, attracting tourists from the nearby coast, and concludes with the usual fireworks display that lights up the village sky.

A free event for everyone

All shows at the San Lorenzo Festival are free admission, in full coherence with the community and welcoming spirit of the event. The event is organized by the Municipality of Gatteo in collaboration with the parish community and local associations, and is part of the rich summer calendar that enlivens Gatteo and the coastal hamlet of Gatteo a Mare.