PARTIES/Food & Wine WeekendDecember 18–20Various venues in Florence
‘Tis the season for food and wine lovers in Florence! First in the lineup is an exclusive Freequencies event (December 18, from 7pm) at Home Restaurant Hotel, in an 18th century residence. From 8.30pm, enjoy a buffet, carefully curated by chef Gaetano Campolo, and wine tasting to benefit children’s hospital Meyer. Later in the evening, the Khora Quartet will perform original songs and hits from Led Zeppelin, Queen and others, as guests stroll through moodlit rooms taking in three different contemporary art exhibitions. (Reservations required: call 392/1664902). Over the weekend, take part in The Wine Road, a two-day event in via dei Neri, where local and regional producers (18 different companies) will serve up samples of their finest wines. The event begins in piazza del Grano and a Wine Card, valid for 5 tastings, costs 10 euro. See The Wine Road’s website for further details.
SHOP/Gran Bazaar Natale 11am–10pm, December 20Istituto PIO X ArtigianelliVia Serragli 104, FlorenceJust under the wire, sneak in a last-minute stop at an unusual Christmas market: this year’s Gran Bazaar Natale, hosted in a converted cinema and theatre once popular with Santo Spirito residents, will feature 35 exhibitors, catering from Caffe Notte’, DJ sets and even a children’s origami workshop. Vendors and exhibitors include Blackspring Bookshop, Campucc10, local womenswear label Eva di Franco and more. Entry is free: view more information on the Facebook event.
ph. via Natale e’ l’Oltrarno
FESTIVE/Oltrarno ChristmasUntil January 6 Piazza del Carmine and throughout the Oltrarno
Being pedestrianized last year was just the beginning: now piazza del Carmine has been transformed into a full-blown Christmas village, complete with ice skating, rides and holly-jolly concession huts. Beyond the amusement park-like amenities, the ‘piazza program’ includes afternoon visits with Santa Claus (4.30–6pm daily until Christmas Eve), aperitivi, dance performances, face painting, puppet shows and more. Beyond the square, many neighborhood venues are hosting related events. On December 20, play board games all day at Libreria Castalia; stop in at Cartavetra to see the current Little Red Riding Hood-themed exhibition and take part in a special event; and end the day on a festive note with the St. Mark’s Carols Service (6pm), followed by minced pies and mulled wine. See more events and times here.
DANCE/Sleeping BeautyJanuary 5, 2016Teatro della Pergola, via della Pergola 24, Florence
Kick off the new year with a classic fairytale: see Sleeping Beauty performed by the prestigious Moscow Ballet. Choreographed by Marius Petipa and featuring famous music from Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, call this nineteenth century masterpiece the ‘dance that launched a thousand Disney archetypes.’ Featured soloists include Stetlitsa Evgenii and Olga Kifiak, both of the leading Kiev Ballet company. Brace yourself for the sweetly sentimental closing scene, when key characters from various fairytales all meet and celebrate Princess Aurora’s awakening. Tickets are available in Box Office Toscana locations or by calling 334/1891173.
