Oktoberfest Bovese 2026 in Bova Marina

Piazza Municipio · Bova Marina, Costa Viola, Calabria

24 October 2026

On Saturday 24 October 2026 Piazza Municipio in Bova Marina hosts the fourth Oktoberfest Bovese, organised by the town's Comitato Giovani (youth committee). The afternoon starts at 5pm in the courtyard of the public library with children's shows, bouncy castles and games run by Giocolereggio; at 7.30pm the food and beer stands of local businesses open, and from 9pm the square belongs to Kawabonga On Tour, with DJ sets, performers and live entertainment. A beer pong tournament starts at midnight, and the guests include the Reggio Calabria branch of the Fiat 500 Club Italia. The sources mention no entrance ticket: you pay for food and drinks.

The day’s programme, hour by hour

The Oktoberfest Bovese takes place on a single day, Saturday 24 October 2026, running from the afternoon into the night. At 5pm it starts with the youngest: the courtyard of the public library (Biblioteca comunale) hosts children's shows, bouncy castles and other games, run according to the poster by the Giocolereggio group.

At 7.30pm the food and beer stands open in the square, run by local businesses, with food and beer for the evening. At 9pm the Kawabonga On Tour show begins, and at midnight a beer pong tournament takes over the square. During the evening members of the Fiat 500 Club Italia, Reggio Calabria branch, are expected as guests.

Kawabonga On Tour: a party in the square

The centrepiece of the evening is Kawabonga On Tour, the touring version of the Kawabonga Party designed for town squares and festivals. As its organisers describe it, it mixes DJ sets drawing on different genres and decades with a show of special effects, confetti, inflatables and balloons, and expects the crowd to join in rather than just watch.

In Bova Marina the programme announces DJ sets, performers and live entertainment from 9pm. The midnight beer pong tournament, the game in which players throw ping-pong balls into cups set out on a table, is the last item on the official schedule; no closing time is given.

Who runs it: the Comitato Giovani and the fourth edition

The event is promoted by the Comitato Giovani of Bova Marina, which signs the poster and presents the evening with several partners whose logos appear on it. The official image was also shared by the Pro Loco Bova Marina, the volunteer association that promotes the town, and was picked up by the regional portal Calabria Straordinaria.

This is the fourth edition. The Oktoberfest Bovese borrows its name from Munich's beer festival, but it remains a local town party aimed at families, young people and visitors alike: the afternoon is for children, the evening for music and street food. The sources do not describe specific beers or menus: the stands are run by local businesses.

Admission, food and practical tips

The sources make no mention of tickets: the Oktoberfest takes place in the open square and you only pay for what you eat and drink at the stands. Prices have not been published and there is no official phone number for information; for updates, follow the social media pages of the Pro Loco Bova Marina and the organisers.

The party is outdoors and the poster gives no wet-weather alternative. If you are staying late, note that the clocks go back one hour at 3am on the night between Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October, when Italy returns to winter time. For children, the 5pm programme in the library courtyard is the one to aim for; the evening, with DJ sets and beer pong, is mainly for teenagers and adults.

Getting to Piazza Municipio

Piazza Municipio is the town hall square in the centre of Bova Marina. The town lies on the Ionian coast of the province of Reggio Calabria and is crossed by the SS106 coastal road, which links it westwards with Melito di Porto Salvo and Reggio Calabria and eastwards with Palizzi, Brancaleone and the Locride area.

By train, get off at Bova Marina station on the Ionian railway, served by regional trains to Reggio Calabria Centrale and Catanzaro Lido: if you plan to return by train, check the time of the last service in advance, as the party goes on past midnight. The sources do not mention dedicated parking or shuttle buses.

Bova Marina and the Greek-speaking area

Bova Marina is a young town: it grew up around 1870, when Bishop Dalmazio D'Andrea bought land along the Siderone stream and gave it to farmers coming down from the mountains, and it became a municipality in its own right in 1908. It belongs to the Grecanic area, where Calabrian Greek is still spoken and the town is called Jalò tu Vùa; higher up, at over 900 metres, stands Bova, the old Chora.

The place to visit is the Archeoderi archaeological park in the San Pasquale valley, with the remains of a 4th-century synagogue found in 1986 during road works: its floor mosaic shows a menorah, a citron, a palm branch and a shofar. For other events nearby, see the events calendar.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2026 Oktoberfest Bovese?

On Saturday 24 October 2026, from 5pm into the night: the stands open at 7.30pm, Kawabonga On Tour starts at 9pm and the beer pong tournament at midnight.

Where does it take place?

In Piazza Municipio, Bova Marina. The 5pm children's shows are in the courtyard of the public library.

Is entry free?

The sources mention no tickets: the party is in the open square and you pay for food and drinks at the stands. Prices have not been published.

Is there anything for children?

Yes: from 5pm there are shows, bouncy castles and games run by Giocolereggio in the courtyard of the public library.

What is Kawabonga On Tour?

The touring, open-air version of the Kawabonga Party: DJ sets across genres, performers and a show with special effects and confetti. In Bova Marina it starts at 9pm.

How do I get to Bova Marina?

By car on the SS106 coastal road, or by train on the Ionian railway to Bova Marina station. No dedicated parking is mentioned.

Who organises the event?

Bova Marina's Comitato Giovani (youth committee), which signs the fourth edition; the poster was also shared by the Pro Loco Bova Marina.

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All Costa Viola events