Illuminated boats built by volunteers, light reflecting on the water and environmentally friendly fireworks: the banks of the lake come to life in mid August in the name of popular traditions and local responsibility
Lake Como’s Ferragosto Gravedonese, now on its 80th edition, is on 14 August. It revolves around boat floats built in the months before the festival by groups of local volunteers – Marafiki, Maltrainsema, Gli amici di San Carlo – and placed in the waters, lighted up, passing twice in front of the judging panel. The first parade dates back to 1946, when the end of World War II led to a spontaneous desire for lighter moments. From 7 pm the lakeside promenades fill up with street food and music and the parade begins at 9 pm to be followed by fireworks, with the firework technicians based at the end of the promenade and in the water, symbolically setting fire to the castle.
As many as 20,000 people are expected to attend. Access to the lakeside promenade is via a symbolic contribution and the boat prize-giving ceremony takes place the next evening in Piazza Garibaldi. “Since 1946 the illuminated boat floats, which our volunteers put so much passion into making, together with the great firework display, pull in thousands of visitors,” stresses mayor Cesare Soldarelli, “an authentic experience in which the area’s traditions and beauties meld into a single backdrop.”
On 15 August the party moves onto Menaggio. At 10.30 pm on Saturday 15 August the festival over the lake organised by Grand Hotel Victoria comes to life and is visible from the whole Benedetto Castelli lakeside promenade, which also hosts a craft market every Friday evening in summer. Entrance is free, while the space in front of the hotel is for guests of the hotel only. Once again on 15 August, the east side of the lake responds with Dervio’s Notte di Luci sul Lago.
The event kicks off in the morning on the lakeside promenade with free sailing, windsurfing and kayaking lessons, trips out on the lake’s characteristic Lucie rowing boats and a fire and light show in the amphitheatre, with a violin concert and music points punctuating the whole length of the nearly-two-metre-long promenade, and continuing with the Due Sponde display of fireworks fired out from boats moored between Dervio and Cremia. “It is an event which is respectful of everyone because its sound impact is low,” stresses mayor Stefano Cassinelli.
