The week of October 19 to 22, 2026 on Lake Garda revolves around the Marrone di San Zeno Chestnut Festival, which brings chestnuts and autumn menus to Monte Baldo from Thursday, and the close of the Lugana Festival in Sirmione. In between, a new stretch of the Ciclovia del Garda cycle path opens in Padenghe, alongside evenings of music, theatre and talks in Salò, Gargnano and Riva del Garda.
The weather
Monday, October 19: overcast, 13 to 22 degrees, light wind. Tuesday, October 20: overcast, 11 to 22 degrees, light wind.
All week
In Valeggio sul Mincio, Parco Giardino Sigurtà hosts its Autumn Festival, with the foliage at centre stage. Until November 15 it also offers children the Sigillo Spezzato (“Broken Seal”), a six-stage game trail for kids and teenagers.
In Lazise, Movieland Park continues its Halloween season until November 1, with pumpkins, sets and themed lighting. In Castelnuovo del Garda, Gardaland’s PREDA trail stays open until November 1.
In Limone sul Garda, the treasure hunt “Un tesoro di lago” turns the town into a big game of clues. It starts from the Info Point in via Caldogno, where the map is sold. In Tignale, guided walks continue until October 25.
In Lonato del Garda, the food circuit “La Taöla del Contadì”, devoted to farming traditions, is under way, and the Lunaria 5.1 theatre season began on October 17.
From October 12 to December 13, the Menù del territorio return: Cibo di Mezzo brings local products to thirteen restaurants from Lake Sebino to Lake Garda. In Riva del Garda, DiVin Ottobre continues, and until October 31 the auditorium of the Comunità Alto Garda e Ledro hosts Ottobre a teatro, six dialect plays by the company I Sarcaioli.
Monday, October 19
In Sirmione, the Lugana Festival closes its first edition with a cooking competition for chefs from the Lugana DOC production towns, at Villa Cortine Palace Hotel from 10 am to 11 pm, by invitation. At 6 pm at Hotel Catullo, a talk by Maria Costanza Di Croce explores d’Annunzio, his dark charm and Lake Garda, as part of “Catullo in Love”.
In Riva del Garda, the association Amici dell’arte presents its new-year courses at 8:30 pm at viale dei Tigli 47: watercolour, engraving, oil painting, modelling, mosaic and drawing.
In Peschiera del Garda, the Monday Literary Salon returns from 3:30 to 5:30 pm at the Centro Civico “Gandini”, with free entry and conversations with authors and experts.
Tuesday, October 20
In Padenghe sul Garda, a new stretch of the Ciclovia del Garda is inaugurated. The project aims at a cycle route of about 165 kilometres around the lake, across Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino. Also in Padenghe, at 6 pm, the Pro Loco hosts “Conversation Street!”.
Wednesday, October 21
In San Felice del Benaco, the Libriamoci reading group meets at 8:30 pm in the library to discuss “Ho paura torero” by Pedro Lemebel. In Toscolano Maderno, the Autumn Film Club screens “Rental Family” by Hikari at 8:45 pm, the story of rental families in Tokyo.
In Arco, the Pillole di mondo series offers a fresh look at the history of Persia and its role as an antagonist to the West. In Torri del Benaco, the educational services of Garda, Torri, Brenzone and Malcesine hold a meeting from 6 to 8 pm at the Auditorium San Giovanni on growing up in the digital world, for parents and educators.
In Malcesine, an environmental guide leads a walk among olive trees and votive shrines. In Nago-Torbole, at 5 pm in the library, “Libri in gioco” introduces children aged 0 to 24 months and their parents to listening and reading, with free entry.
Thursday, October 22
In San Zeno di Montagna, the Marrone di San Zeno DOP Festival enters its second weekend, running from Thursday, October 22 to Sunday, October 25, together with the traditional Chestnut Festival.
In Gargnano, the Church of San Francesco hosts the concert “Musiche dal ‘900” at 8:30 pm, with the vocal ensemble Halia Sonora and the choir Manoeuvre. Entry is free until seats run out.
In Salò, the library hosts a talk with Alberto Toso Fei at 8:30 pm, part of the series on the 600 years of the Magnifica Patria. At 7:30 pm at Ristorante Conca d’Oro, four Lions Clubs hold an evening on Francis of Assisi, with booking required by October 19.
In Sirmione, Hotel Catullo hosts a talk by Andrea Bariselli from 6 to 8 pm titled “Unspecial. Smettere di essere straordinari per tornare a vivere”. In Manerba del Garda, the film series Viaggio nella Settima Arte ends at 8:30 pm in the Council Hall with an evening on Norma Jeane, better known as Marilyn Monroe.
In Peschiera del Garda, the Parc Hotel hosts the sixth Lake Garda Hospitality Summit, for entrepreneurs, managers and hospitality professionals. In Montichiari, the Casa Bianca programme brings Borzi and Migliorati into the world of Carlo Collodi, focusing on Pinocchio for the bicentenary of his birth.
In Ledro, the Locca cultural centre opens the 4th Trofeo Nazionale Cori d’Italia choir competition at 8:30 pm. It continues on October 24 and 25, with free entry. In Malcesine, an environmental guide leads a visit to the World War I stronghold of Dos Merlo.
Exhibitions on now
In San Felice del Benaco, the Fondazione Cominelli hosts “Fuck War”, a group show by 28 artists against war, until October 24. In Sirmione, Palazzo Callas Exhibitions presents “Wound | Ferita”, the Premio Sirmione per la Fotografia show, until November 8, while the old town hosts the Pietra&Co public art trail until October 30.
In Nago-Torbole, the former Colonia Pavese presents “Raggi di design”, fifty bicycles from the Carosini Collection, until October 25.
