Cremona has a typical Po Valley climate — hot and humid in summer, cold and foggy in winter, with the best weather in spring and autumn. Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are the best times for a visit, with moderate temperatures and good light.
The Cremona Musica festival in late September/early October is the major annual event, bringing together violin makers, musicians, and music enthusiasts from around the world for a series of concerts, exhibitions, and workshops. The Internationale Handwerkmesse für Streichinstrumentenbau (International Exhibition of Violin Making) coincides with it and draws craftsmen from across Europe. If you're interested in the violin trade, this is the time to come.
The Christmas market in the Piazza del Comune in December is pleasant and not overcrowded. Winter in Cremona can be cold and damp — the Po Valley fog is a real thing — but the light in the low winter sun on the brick facades of the piazza is atmospheric.