Upcoming Events › Umbria

Every May since 1594, on the last Sunday of the month, the towns of Gubbio and Sansepolcro have competed against each other with crossbows. A nod to Italy's medieval past, the competitors dress up in period costumes and battle to win a gold, silver, or bronze crossbow. Access 160 Issues of Our Award-Winning Travel Publication. Get Insider Help Planning Your Trip to Italy.

For one weekend, the streets of the town of Spello are covered in huge carpets with intricate designs made out of only flowers and other organic elements. The floral tapestries, intended to honor the passage of the Body of Christ, wind through the streets of the old center of the village and brighten the city and attract thousands of visitors who come from all over to stroll along the flower-covered streets. The region's bishop leads a procession on Sunday morning, making his…

Italians love a reason to party and this is evident in their festas celebrating the most obscure of objects, like in the small town Pierantonio, where they celebrate the Battitura. This is the farming machine that cuts and collects hay. You can find these machines in mid to late June moving through golden shimmering fields. They honor this machine for 10 days every June. A menu filled with pasta, grilled meats, and a local dish called Torta al Testo, and…

A wonderful celebration in Umbria to mark the seasonal blossoming of fragrant lavender on the fields of Lavandeto di Assisi, a garden and breeding ground famous for its vast and varied collection of lavender plants. Threads and materials of many colors can be produced from the plants, and during the festival there will be basket making courses and a small market as well as a workshop on the distillation of essential oils. Visitors can also learn how to use lavender…

The Two Worlds Festival of opera and art in Spoleto hosts quality classical music performances, ballet, theatre, and art exhibits all over the town. The festival's original organizer, Gian Carlo Menotti, intended for the festival to showcase American and Italian worlds coming together through art, dance, and music. Cost per performance is €48, but the event's website is offering a special for two shows for €60 or three shows for €84. Access 160 Issues of Our Award-Winning Travel Publication. Get Insider Help Planning Your Trip to Italy.

You may have heard of the Palio in Siena where neighborhoods compete in horse races, but in the small town of Pierantonio located about 25 minutes from Perugia, the capital of Umbria, the Palio dei Rioni has competitions in wheelbarrow races. In the piazza, stacks of hay shape a race course where wheelbarrow races are held. Each neighborhood in Pierantonio is represented by two people of the specific neighborhood, one of whom will sit in the wheelbarrow while the other…

Jazz lovers from all over the world converge on the city of Perugia, in Umbria, for performances, seminars and workshops at one of Europe's best-known jazz festivals and by renowned musicians. This is an event not to miss for jazz lovers! Ticket prices vary by performance but start at €12. Access 160 Issues of Our Award-Winning Travel Publication. Get Insider Help Planning Your Trip to Italy. Event photo: www.flickr.com/photos/bestkevin/4801546758/