Santa Maria and San Rocco Fair

The Ferragosto festival in the heart of the Garfagnana

The Santa Maria and San Rocco Fair is one of the most cherished summer events in Barga, a refined medieval village perched in the Serchio Valley, in the province of Lucca. Held around Ferragosto, coinciding with the Feast of the Assumption (August 15) and the feast of Saint Roch (August 16), it has served as a gathering point for the entire valley community for over a century. It is one of those festivals that unites religious observance with popular and commercial traditions, in true Tuscan style.

Dozens of stalls across squares and streets

Throughout the fair, Barga's historic center is filled with dozens of stalls spread across Piazza Pascoli, Piazza Matteotti, Via Roma, Via Canipaia, and Via del Giardino. Visitors can browse through agricultural products, clothing, footwear, local gastronomic specialties, and handicrafts. A special mention goes to Largo Biondi, where traditional vendors return punctually with their onions, garlic, and watermelons: a detail that captures the rural soul of the fair and its deep connection to the rhythms of the Garfagnana countryside.

Dancing in the square

In the evening, the festival changes its face: Piazza Pascoli turns into a large open-air dance floor. The dance evenings, free and open to all, feature a mix of ballroom dancing, Latin American rhythms, and disco music, with orchestras, dancers, and DJs animating the center until late. It is the most anticipated moment for the locals, who have been gathering here for generations to dance under the August stars.

Devotion and tradition

The fair is rooted in the community's religious celebrations: during the festival days, the churches of the Barga Pastoral Unit, including the Church of San Rocco, host services dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and the saint. The morning of the following day is dedicated to the so-called San Rocchino, a small popular post-festival tradition very dear to the people of Barga. This blend of the sacred and the profane makes the Santa Maria and San Rocco Fair a defining event for Barga and the entire Serchio Valley in Tuscany.