Tag Archives: local events

Barga Chocolate Festival

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If yoy love chocolate you will want to go to Barga this weekend! I have been to this wonderful event in past years and I loved it! If you go have a hot chocolate for me.

The Barga in Chocolate event is on this year, 6th, 7th and 8th December. It is on each day from 10.00am until 7.00pm. You will find artisan chocolate shops along the streets and squares in the historical centre.

There will be entertainment as well…

Barga’s Befana meets children to receive their letters.

Live music

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Stalls with handcrafts and Christmas products

Chocolate workshops and activities for children

For more information please phone +39 331 3526137

Email…bargaincioccolato@gmail.com

The first Bagni di Lucca games

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Someone in Bagni di Lucca had a great idea to bring together the people of the villages that make up the town. Then an amazing group of people pulled it all together to create a wonderfully successful event for everyone to enjoy..


Four teams were organised to compete in a friendly and fun way against each other in a series of games over a few weeks…rafting, tug of war, trivia, padel ball and much more.

This is just one week’s events.

The four teams were created…Trota (Trout) with Benabbio, Lugliano, Val di Lima and Controneria. Granchio (Crab) with Ponte a Serraglio, Granaiola and Montefegatese. Vipera (Viper) with Villa, Corsena and Paretaio. Elk (Dell’Alce) with Fornoli and Fegana.

Here are some photos from the games. I was only here for the final event in Bagni di Lucca  Villa. All other photos I have scavenged from Facebook.

And the winner was…

Actually the winner was Bagni di Lucca and the people who live in this beautiful town. There was something for everyone and as you can see from the happy faces of the audiences, fun was had by all. What a great way to bring the community together and encourage pride in the town.

Congratulations to the Comune and all of the people who made this happen, the amazing organisers, the participants and the audiences who cheered them on. I would expect it will become a much loved annual event.

Magic at Villa Aurora

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Ristorante Villa Aurora, in Fabbriche di Casabasciana, is a much loved restaurant in Bagni di Lucca. The delightful owner and chef, Ferdinando, has been cooking up a storm for years.

Regular customer and friend, Richard Macrory, Professor of Environmental Law in the UK, and amateur magician, is going to put on a magic show in honour of Ferdinando to thank him for his friendship and all of the delicious meals he has eaten there over many years.

The event will take place on Monday 8th of September at 9.00pm. Come for dinner and enjoy a free magic and illusion show with Richard and his assistants, Christian Boscarino and Monica Paolinelli.

It promises be a fun and delicious evening and a chance to thank Ferdinando for his work.

Please call Ristorante Villa Aurora for more information and to book a table. There is limited seating so book early.

Phone (39) 0583 85600

Come Dancing…Northern Soul in Bagni di Lucca

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The Heart and Soul Weekender is the brain child of Catherine Clift, an enthusiastic resident of Bagni di Lucca.

Her love of Northern Soul, a British subculture centred on a particular style of fast-tempo, obscure American soul music, mostly from the 60s and early 70s, has inspired her to bring an event to Bagni di Lucca. Northern Soul dancing is energetic, with complex footwork and high kicks.

The movement emerged from the British Mod Scene, with venues in Northern England and the Midlands. Iconic venues like the Twisted Wheel, the Wigan Casino and the Blackpool Mecca were crucial to the Northern Soul scene.

Northern Soul has seen a resurgence in recent years and Catherine and a group of like minded friends are bringing it to Bagni di Lucca in September. It has taken more than a year to bring everything together for what is going be a wonderful weekend of music, dance and fun!

On Friday 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th of September a music festival will be held with DJs from England, Jersey, Ireland and Italy. They will play vinyl records from the 50s to the 80s…Motown, Reggae, Rhythm and Blues, Ska, Latin and Mod music. Expect to hear The Kinks, the Isley Brothers, PP Arnold and so much more.

Bar Italia, the casino in Ponte a Serraglio (the first purpose built casino in Europe) and the Piaza Jean Varraud in La Viila will host more than 200 people travelling from all over Europe for the first event of its kind in Bagni di Lucca.

On Friday 12th September the event will kick off at Bar Italia in Ponte a Serraglio from 4.00pm and move to the casino where the music and dancing will continue until 2.00am.

Saturday 13th September will see the same programme.

On Sunday  September will see the fun move to La Villa to the Piazza, Antico Caffe del Sonno and Bar Roma. There will be live music with local performers Polly Haardon and Barbara.

Expect to see people dressed for the occasion. The original Northern Soul aficionados wore in Mod style, baggy trousers, long skirts, vest tops and leather brogues. The right footwear is essential so the dancer can slide with ease on the dance floor.

The Italian Mod scene became prominent in the mid 80s and was centred around Rimini. It involved a vibrant subculture focussed on fashion, music, scooters and social gathering. Vespa and Lambretta scooters became a symbol of Soul. Expect to see colourful scooters at the casino.

I’m sure the Heart and Soul Weekender is going to be a huge success…perhaps it will become an annual event.

People are coming to Bagni di Lucca from far and wide for the event. Please book if you wish to attend and make sure you book accommodation.

For more information please contact Catherine at cathymckee21@gmail.com or telephone 0044 7398208731

Things to do

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On Saturday 28th June in Montefegatesi will be Ballo con Ciao in the Montefegatesi Theatre organised by the Ermete Zacconi Society.
There will be pizza, dessert and dancing. (You don’t have to eat pizza)

Call 331 738 4968 for information.

On Thursday 3rd July at 9.00pm in the Casino in Ponte a Serraglio there will be a fashion show with vintage fashion in collaboration with Auser.

In Benabbio there Philharmonic Society of Benabbio will have a series of readings every Thursday in July at 6.00pm in the Public Garden of Benabbio.

The opening of the exhibition of Laura Balloni will be held at the gallery of Borgo degli Artisti.

Bagni di Lucca event information

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A new website has been created by the Comune to inform people about what is happening in Bagni di Lucca.

https://www.bagnidilucca.info/tutti-gli-eventi-a-bagni-di-lucca/

Events for the summer 2025 are shown, concerts, gastronomic events, nature walks annd cultural discoveries, all in beautiful Bagni di Lucca…over 100 events. The site will be updated daily.

Each visitor will receive a business card with the QR code to access the program directly.