Festa del Lago, Lake Como Festivals & Fireworks Shows

“There’s nothing like forgetting about your  to-do lists AND look up and watch the explosions. In that moment the only thoughts crossing your mind are: What color will the NEXT burst be? Will IT be A big bang or the crispy crinkling kind? Will I be able to hear the echo? The pounding pop-corn bursts and the deep drum-like explosions reverberate right into your chest, your neck starts getting tired from looking up but you resist until the end. MesmErized, the child inside you is awestruck by the beautiful colors and outrageously loud booms. Then it stops. The sky is dark again and everything goes back to normal.”

Blog written by Celia Abernethy updated 2023.

We thought we’d do something different this year and go to Valmadrera and Malgrate to celebrate the Lecco Lake Festival.  Going to another town to celebrate sounds funny eh?  Well, there is some sense to this madness:

Festa del Lago Lecco, Last Sunday in June

Every year on the last Sunday in June the city of Lecco holds a festival.  There are usually events like a market, music and a grand fireworks display.
The fireworks are set up on a flat barge and transported out to the middle of the lake. The best views are from the Lecco Lungo Lago promenade (in front of the Alberi Hotel) or from the promenade in Malgrate, the city on the opposite side of the Kennedy bridge.

Our plan was to have cocktails at Parè 67 in Valmadrera and then go over to Malgrate after dark to see the firework display.

This year there was a torrential wind, rain and hail storm, so the event was postponed to the day after. We stayed for a drink at a local pub, but then had to get out. The wind swooped in and dark clouds hung low over the lake.

We called it a night but then we heard the fireworks show would be held Monday night.

We headed over to the Canotieri, the local rowing club in Lecco which is one of the best vantage points of the lake.
The days are long in June and it doesn’t get dark until about 10 pm. The fireworks started about half an hour later at 10:30 PM.

Towns on Lake Como with Fireworks Shows:

• Menaggio Festival – mid May
• Isola Comacina – Last weekend June (Sagra di San Giovanni)
• Lecco – Last weekend June
• Varenna- First weekend of July
• Brienno – early August
• Dongo – early August
• Musso – mid August
• Cremia – mid August
• Menaggio – mid August

To find more, search in Google “Fuochi d’artificio “+ name of the city

There’s nothing like forgetting about to-do lists to look up and watch the explosions. In that moment, the only thoughts crossing your mind are: What color will the burst be? Will it be a big bang or the crispy crinkling kind? Will I be able to hear the echo? The pounding pop-corn bursts and the deep drum-like explosions reverberate right into your chest, your neck starts getting tired from looking up but you resist until the end. Mesmerized, the child inside you is awestruck by the beautiful colors and outrageously loud booms.

Then it stops. The sky is dark again and everything goes back to normal.

The calm before the storm, drinks at Parè 67 in Valmadrera

Selfie in the wind

We enjoyed the view from Valmadrera before  going home

View from the Canotieri

Fireworks displays on Lake Como

Photos and article by Celia Abernethy