This is a newsletter of happenings! Not '60s American-style happenings, but Tuscan Style Happenings! Enjoy! Most festivals are in the late afternoon or evening, but once you are in the area, it is a good idea to ask the locals! Fall Calendar of Festivals September 7--Festa della Rificolona, a traditional festival celebrating the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. This is a festival for children, celebrated with paper lanterns, called rificolone. The smaller children are in costume, and the older children have long steel pipes that shoot clay spitballs to break the lanterns. The goal is to get them to catch fire! The Lungarno will have tables selling candy and toys from 4-11 p.m. on Sunday. There is also a festival in Piazza Mercato Centrale. Sept 7-8--Fierucola del Pane in Piazza Santissima Annuziata, a street fair with local handmade products. Sept 15--Fierucolina di San Matteo in Piazza Santo Spirito , a lively street fair with local products. Sept 13-15--Festa del Chianti Classico in Greve Sept 20-21--Vino al Vino Panzano in Chianti. Wine from many of the Panzano wineries is available to be sampled. Sept 26-29--Festa di Bacco Artigiano Rufina (Saturday parade at 3 p.m. and blessing of the Carro Matto from Piazza Duomo to Piazza Signoria Florence. Sept 29--Festa dell'Uva in Impruneta includes a parade with floats and also dinners (reservations +39-055-231-3729). The festival runs all month, but the parade is the last Sunday. Sept 7-22--"Cristallo tra le mura," weekends only in the Comune di Colle di Val d'Elsa. Organized by the Il Consorzio del Cristallo, the town's shops are always open and there is a new museum built underground which is very interesting. This annual show within the walls of the old city offers demonstrations of the art of making crystal. Sept 21-29--Sagra della Val d'Arbia in Buonconvento One of my favorite towns to visit, Buonconvento, south of Siena, has a fair inside the walls of this 13th-century village every evening. Storytellers, dancing on the weekend, and a flea market with local artisans selling their creations. October 12-20--Festa di San Luca (patron saint of Impruneta). I once attended a great meal in the catacombs of the church! October 11-13--Eurochocolate Pisa October 19-27--Eurochocolate Perugia October 24-28--Slow Food® "Salone del Gusto" in Torino NEWSLETTERS Life's Too Short [fall 2005] Pasqua [march 2005] Estate [summer 2004] Primavera [spring 2004] Tuscan Chocolate Valley [winter 2003] I Scream, U Scream, We All Scream for...Gelato! [summer 2003] Slow Food, Slow Travel [spring 2003] Sagre, Sagre, Sagre! [spring 2003] Tuscan Virgins [fall 2002] Fall Festivals [fall 2002] La Notte di San Lorenzo [summer 2002] Fireflies & Fireworks [summer 2002] I Love EWE! [spring 2002] Andrea's Christmas Dinner [winter 2001] Addio Bistecca alla Fiorentina! [summer 2001] Guelfa e Ghibellini [late summer 2001] Tartufi, Feste & Sagre [fall 2000] Piatti del Buon Ricordo [summer 2000] COMING SOON! Carrara: Marble & White Prosciutto