Events and festivals in the Po Delta: a year-round calendar

From a carnival on the water to an oyster gravel ride: twelve months of festivals around Porto Tolle, Scardovari, Comacchio and Chioggia. A page worth bookmarking, updated every season.

The Po Delta does not have just one high season. Its calendar follows the water: fishing, rice, lagoons and tides. Every month brings a reason to visit, usually a local dish or village celebration rather than a headline event. This page gathers what happens within an hour of Porto Tolle, with confirmed 2026 dates and recurring dates to help plan the following year. We keep it updated: if an event moves, you will find the change here.

Winter — when the water dresses for a celebration

### Comacchio Carnival on the Water (late January–February)

Decorated boats parade along the old town's canals while masked performers dance on the banks. Northern Italy's most unusual carnival is best watched from the bridges, with marinated eel in hand, just across the Po in Emilia.

### New Year's Eve and Christmas in Comacchio (December)

Floating nativity scenes beneath the historic bridges, followed on New Year's Eve by a music-and-fireworks show over Trepponti. It closes the year and, in many ways, begins the next.

Spring — the slow season

### Primavera Slow (from 21 March, for three months)

Three months of guided walks, bike rides and boat trips through the Po Delta Park, among lagoons, woodland and fishing valleys. It is the best birdwatching season: flamingos, herons and low light over the lagoons. See the Park website for the programme.

Po Delta Park programme

Birdwatching in the Po Delta

### Madonna del Mare Festival, Porto Garibaldi (29 May–7 June)

The statue of Our Lady is taken aboard the fishing fleet for the blessing of the sea, in memory of fishermen who never returned. An authentic celebration rooted in seafaring life.

Summer — fish takes over the town square

### Notte Rosa on the Comacchio Lidos (19–21 June)

Concerts and shows across all seven lidos mark the official opening of the Adriatic summer.

### Scardovari Mussel Festival (July)

In Santa Giulia and Scardovari, moments from the lagoon where the PDO mussel is grown: mussels in broth, marinara-style or fried beneath the festival marquee. This is the celebration closest to home for us.

The Cozza di Scardovari DOP mussel

### Chioggia Fish Festival (10–19 July)

The 87th edition of the Adriatic's best-known fish festival brings mixed fried fish, sardines in saor and squid to the historic centre of this 'little Venice'. Booking for the food stalls is recommended.

### San Cassiano and Hospitality Festivals, Porto Garibaldi (9–14 August)

A regatta between the historic districts, market stalls and midnight fireworks; on 14 August, hundreds of kilos of freshly landed fish are fried and handed out free along the harbour.

### Village festivals across the Delta (July–August)

Every hamlet in Porto Tolle and the neighbouring towns has its own festival, nearly always with fish, music and ballroom dancing. Dates change each year: ask us at reception and we will know where the best food is that evening.

Autumn — rice, eel and riverbanks

### Trono del Gusto, Porto Tolle (September)

Three days of street food in central Porto Tolle, bringing together food trucks from across Italy and Delta producers. We covered the 2026 edition in a dedicated article.

Il Trono del Gusto 2026

### Porto Tolle Rice Festival (17–20 September 2026)

A celebration of the Delta's grain: Carnaroli rice grown between the lagoons and cooked every way imaginable beneath the marquee and in local restaurants. This is our hometown festival—read our guide and discover RistòItalia's special menu.

Porto Tolle Rice Festival 2026

RistòItalia's Rice Festival menu

### Comacchio Eel Festival (26 September–11 October, at weekends)

More than thirty ways to cook lagoon eel, from grilling to marinating, always with polenta. It takes place in Comacchio over three weekends from late September into October. Our dedicated article tells the story of the dish, the place and the festival.

Eel Festival website

Po Delta eel: the dish, the place and the festival

### Epica dell'Acqua (16–18 October 2026)

A 100-kilometre journey on foot through the Delta in three stages, two of them passing through Porto Tolle. For runners and walkers—and anyone who wants to experience the Delta at the right pace.

Guide to Epica dell'Acqua 2026

### Ostricando, the Po Delta gravel ride (Sunday 25 October 2026)

Sixty or ninety kilometres along unpaved levees, starting from the Pila fish market, with oysters opened by the farmers at the Molo dell'Ostrica feed stop and lunch prepared by the Pila fishing cooperative. Limited to 400 riders. Enter at ostricando.it; our complete guide is in the dedicated article.

Ostricando entries

Ostricando 2026: story and programme

### Autunno di Mare, Porto Garibaldi (November–December)

Inside a heated marquee: fish stew, seafood risotto, cuttlefish and mantis shrimp. Shellfish season at its best.

How to use this calendar

• Fish festivals are busy at weekends: arrive early or reserve a place at the food stalls where possible.
• Rooms in Porto Tolle sell out weeks ahead during local festivals: if you have a date, secure it early.
• Many events can be reached by bike along the levees: ask us for a route.
• We will add 2027 dates as soon as organisers confirm them.