Notte di Fiaba - Riva del Garda

In the last weekend of August, in the dreamy Riva del Garda, located on the northern tip of Lake Garda, everything is dominated by fairy tales, stories and legends. The so-called 'Notte di Fiarba', or 'Tale Night', is then celebrated, which is in a different motto every year. 

This event has its origins in the 20th century. Then the people came together to celebrate and play music together on this day. During the First and Second World Wars the party was stopped, but then resumed in order to become increasingly spectacular.  

The organisers transform the place into an authentic, fairytale-like scene, in which the chosen theme serves as inspiration (in 2011 it was, for example, Cinderella). The fairy tale is performed on large, imaginative stages spread by Riva. There are also themed parties, concerts, workshops, lectures, children's theatre, exhibitions and acrobats and circus shows. In addition, you can try different types of dishes and drinks. The alleys of the town are decorated with colourful fairy-tale images and the adults accompany the children dressed as fairy-tale figures through this impressive and special weekend. 

During the fairy-tale night, an important historical event from 1943 is also commemorated. At that time there was a war going on between Milan and Venice. Venice had a fleet sailed over the river Adige up to and including Lake Garda to surprise the other side. This ended in the battle of Lake Garda. In the 'Notte di Fiaba', this event is played out with a battle between the different districts of the city, which fight each other in different matches. The winning team will then go to the port in costume. 

On Saturday at 10 pm the day reaches its climax with a 40 minute fireworks show in the bier of Riva del Garda.