The Municipality of Manerba del Garda has unveiled the calendar of summer events for 2025, a program promoted by the Department of Tourism and Culture aimed at fostering connections through music, culture, and the enhancement of the local area. The schedule is designed to cover the entire municipal area, involving various districts up to the Natural Reserve of Rocca and Sasso. The declared goal is to offer high-quality entertainment that is accessible to all and environmentally respectful, placing people at the center and promoting a widespread tourism that values every corner of the Lake Garda.
Minerva Musicae, the Premier Jazz Festival
From July 17 to 27, the fourth edition of Minerva Musicae – Jazz is the Track will take place, the flagship festival of the Manerba summer. The event will feature internationally renowned jazz artists, with concerts designed for an intimate atmosphere, limited to a maximum of 350 spectators, and tickets priced affordably starting at 13 euros. “We wanted to create a program that unites musical excellence with popular culture,” said Deputy Mayor and Tourism and Culture Councillor Luca Beltrami, “in a balance that represents the vibrant identity of Manerba.” The festival also aims to convey messages of peace and sustainability.
Scheduled artists include:
- July 17: Alessandro Lanzoni Trio with Francesco Cafiso at the San Giorgio Church Park.
- July 19: Mike Stern Band on the Isola di San Biagio.
- July 20: Camille Bertault Quintet at the San Giorgio Church Park.
- July 24: Luigi Masciari Trio and Piero Bassini Trio at the San Giorgio Church Park.
- July 25: Dado Moroni & Andrea Bacchetti at the San Giorgio Church Park.
- July 26: Christian Sands Trio at the San Giorgio Church Park.
- July 27: Bill Evans and the VansBand All Stars on the Isola di San Biagio.
Cinema, Rock, and Beer at Campo Rolli
Campo Rolli will host three significant events in August. On August 3 and 4, the Drive-In under the Stars will debut, a free initiative reminiscent of the outdoor cinemas of the 1950s and 1960s, featuring a large screen, audio transmitted via radio, and food trucks. Films such as Pretty Woman (in Italian with English subtitles) and Grease (in the original version with Italian subtitles) will be screened.
On August 11, also at Campo Rolli, there will be a free concert by Symphonika on the Rock, a show that combines the energy of rock music with the solemnity of a 25-piece symphony orchestra, reinterpreting songs by Queen, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin. This event will kick off the Manerbeer Fest, the beer festival scheduled from August 12 to 16, which will feature five evenings of live music with tribute bands and street food.
Events in Villages and Districts
The summer calendar includes a widespread distribution of events. The historic center will be animated by three theatrical performances in Piazza Aldo Moro and at the Social Center (from July 5 to August 8) and by the Martedì d’Incanto (from July 1 to August 26), evenings dedicated to slow shopping through the streets of Solarolo and Montinelle. Piazza Silvia, in the Pieve Vecchia district, will host four free concert-performances from August 12 to 23. At the Giardini di Porto Torchio, the Made in Brescia “Nasič a Brèsa” festival will feature performances by Soul Express on July 30 and by Piergiorgio Cinelli, Poncio Belleri, and Dellino Farmer on August 21.
Pro Loco’s Proposals Between Dawn and Water
The Pro Loco of Manerba enriches the program with original initiatives. On Saturday, August 30, starting at 5:00 AM, the Degustacolazione all’Alba will take place on the Isola di San Biagio. The 2025 edition will have the theme “The Four Seasons,” represented through ice sculptures, flowers, a sand art show, and a selection of wineries from Valtenesi.
The Sorsi di Parole festival will also return, combining tastings of local wines and oils with storytelling in four symbolic locations: Porto Torchio (June 13), the Pieve (June 20), Porto Dusano (July 4), and San Giorgio (July 11). Each evening will feature tastings of four wines, EVO oils, and traditional dishes. Finally, every Monday in July (7, 14, 21, and 28), Curem Drè is scheduled, a series of concerts on the water with musicians performing from a raft at Porto Torchio, while the audience watches from the shore.
Sports and Tradition Complete the Offer
The calendar will also include highly appealing sports and traditional events. Manerba will witness the passage of the 1000 Miglia on June 17 and will host a stamp control for the Rally 1000 Miglia on September 20 in Montinelle. The 71st Sectional Gathering of the Alpini “Monte Suello” will take place on September 6 and 7.
Organizing 115 events has been a significant commitment, as emphasized by Deputy Mayor and Tourism and Culture Councillor Luca Beltrami: “This intricate summer calendar represents a vision for the organizers that unites under a single thread. It is not just event programming, but a desire to place people at the center: those who live in Manerba year-round, those who come for a week, and those discovering a district for the first time. It’s the eagerness to offer accessible opportunities for beauty, without turning culture into a luxury for the few. It’s a choice to act with care, not to propose initiatives merely to fill spaces, but to give meaning to places. And this has been achieved again this year, betting on a widespread and shared summer, where every locality in Manerba—from the historic center to the more peripheral areas—takes center stage. From village festivals with live music and local products to cultural or gastronomic evenings, the common thread is one: recognizing the value of local identities and revitalizing social interactions in everyday places, without forgetting those who are less at the center of tourist routes. Valuing each district means including, means building community. And this is done not by replacing citizens, but by standing alongside them, supporting them, enhancing the work and creativity that already exists. We are ready to welcome a large audience once again, because Manerba, this time too, does Italian Version
