September in Umbria always feels like a new beginning.

After the fierce heat of the summer, the sun becomes finally gentle, sunsets are mellow. We might finally get some rain to clear up the skies. The colors, greens, golden and blues, brighten up in the afternoon breezes.

Thre is no end to the celebrations of fruits, flavors and traditions! Figs, grapes, peaches, pears, blackberries will keep you on a permanent sugar high. It’s almost like Christmas but the sweets hang from trees.

If you visiting Umbria right now, don’t miss the fabulous fruit as well as these 4 festivals which give you an opportunity to meet  the locals, learn, eat and drink to your heart content.

1. Festa della Cipolla (Onion Festival), Cannara 5 to 10 September.

Onions have been cultivated for centuries in the fields around tiny Cannara and have the reputation of being especially sweet and tender.

La Festa della Cipolla is one of the most popular festivals in Umbria and obviously is about everything onion: visitors dine on an “all onion menu” which even includes onion based desserts. There is also a lively market and an Onion singing contest. Will the singers be awarded a golden onion? Do go see it to believe it!

2. Giostra della Quintana, Foligno, 3 to 17 September.

Umbrians are fond of medieval festivals but the Quintana Joust and pageant are baroque in all its magnificence. If you don’t find tickets to the Joust, you can always join the crowds for a Baroque dinner at one of the outdoor “taverne”.

Photo credits: Di I, Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia

3. Giochi delle Porte, Gualdo Tadino 22 to 24 September.

Gualdo Tadino is a pretty medieval town on the border with Le Marche. I Giochi delle Porte is a contest among the 4 quarters of the town named by their patron Saints: San Benedetto, San Donato, San Facondino and San Martino. The jockeys, each belonging to one of the quarters, drive small donkey carriages at breakneck speed through the town center. The winners will get to burn the portrait of the Bastola, a lengedary witch is believed to have set the town on fire in 1237. If you visit, don’t miss the Rubboli Museum where you can admire and incredible collection of the family’s gorgeous lusterware.

4.Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia, Montefalco, Assisi, September 24

“Cantine Aperte” meaning “Open Wine Cellars” is a well known wine event which takes place all over Italy at various times of the year. The September events celebrates the end of grape harvest and the beginning of the making of the wine of the present year. It’s a wonderful opportunity to visit the producers and taste wines, like Sagrantino or Grechetto that might not be available where you live. We reccomend Saio in Assisi and Scacciadiavoli in Montefalco.