USA/Independence Day PartyJuly 4, from 6.30pmNuovo Parco Urbano, via Galileo Galilei, Scandicci
Wear red, white and blue and wave your stars and stripes at the annual Independence Day party hosted by the Tuscan American Association, with the City of Scandicci and Harding University in Florence. Jam out to jazz from the Trapeze Fair Quartet, contribute to charitable causes, dig in to favorite Fourth foods like hamburgers and hot dogs and mingle with an international crowd. The fun will run until midnight. For the full program, see the TAA website.
THROWBACK/‘90s Night July 3, 8pm–2am Anfiteatro Le Cascine, via Galoppatoio dei Barberi, Florence
Dust off your Doc Martens and revive your Tamagotchi: the ’90s are back in full force at Anfiteatro Le Cascine! Celebrate pop culture icons from Kurt Cobain to Kelly Kapowski. From alt-rock to grunge to the teen pop that took over at the end of the decade, expect tunes to suit all musical tastes: Spin Doctors, Spice Girls, Depeche Mode, Britney Spears, The Offspring and plenty of one-hit wonders. Pre-purchasing tickets here is recommended.
SURREAL/#DaliMeetsDanteJuly 2–September 27Palazzo Medici Riccardi, via Camillo Cavour 5, Florence
Salvador Dali meets the Sommo Poeta in this pleasantly unexpected pairing at Palazzo Medici Riccardi. Famous for both his bizarre work and erratic behavior, Dali dabbled in book illustrations, including Dante’s Divine Comedy. See Dali’s graphic, psychoanalytical take on Inferno, Purgatory and Paradise in the Galleria delle Carrozze: melting clocks may not show up in the Inferno circles, but plenty of his stylistic standards make appearances in these intensely allegorical illustrations. Head here for further information and tickets.
JAPAN/Tanabata
July 4–5Limonaia of Villa Strozzi, via Pisana 77, Florence
Make a wish! Lailac, Florence’s Japanese cultural association, hosts traditional Tanabata celebrations in the limonaia of Villa Strozzi. Also known as the Star Festival, Tanabata celebrates the annual meeting of deities and star-crossed lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi. To pay tribute to the torn-apart pair, people write out their wishes in poetic form, hanging them on bamboo. Take part in Tabanata rituals, tuck into Japanese street food and dance until dark. Festivities begin at 5pm both days. See the Facebook event for more details.
STREET/QART3 July 7–9 Various venues in Gavinana-Galluzzo, Florence
The Gavinana-Galluzzo area is hosting QART3, a three-day festival of contemporary art. The event includes a competition (look for the works on display in local shop windows) whose winners will have a chance to participate in the 10th Florence Biennale. QART3 will run concurrently with the neighborhood’s Notte Bianca, featuring live music and other activities in and around viale Europa, via Datini and the COOP in piazza Bartali. For more information, visit the qart3.it.
RETRO/Vintage SelectionUntil July 4Stazione Leopolda, viale Fratelli Rosselli 5, Florence
Equal parts marketplace, showcase and celebration, the summer edition of Vintage Selection will have a tasty twist! In addition to the usual selection of quirky clothes and accessories from a range of eras, this round will feature a variety of street food trucks, craft beers and foodie fun. After the 25th edition saw the Stazione Leopolda dressed in muted silver, this theme, ‘The Colors of Food,’ will pack more of a visual punch. For more information, visit the website.
