It is during town festivities that the towns and cities are at their best. When you are travelling, you should plan your itinerary and make sure to be in the right place at the right time! If you are around in Sicily participate to the events to enjoy the mood, learn the local traditions and meet people.
Every year in Sicily , there are a lot of events taking place, all over the region. Traditional events are mainly recurring on the same dates every year, while local events of folklore are changing the dates but not the location.
Traditional events in Sicily , represent, in a way, a connection to the past. It is a kind of time portal as each and every year on the same date, people celebrate the event in the same way as always, with the same rituals, the same timing, sometimes same dresses and for sure with the same spirit as a thousand years ago.
Most of the traditional events in Sicily are religious, thus catholic, and they are organized either to show devotion to the saint “patron” of the town or village where they take place, or to celebrate special holy dates. Each town in Italy has a saint that protects the citizens of the place, called “patrono” and the celebration happens every year on the same calendar date (proclamation of the saint).
The events that are organized for the “holy” days include the known festivity of Christmas (birth of Christ) and Easter(Resurrection of Christ), and less known festivities as Pentecoste (celebration of the Holy Spirit), Corpus Domini (celebrating the tradition and belief in the body and blood of Jesus Christ and his Real Presence in the Eucharist) and Ascensione (bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven). You will find many events on those dates in many places in Sicily.
Not all the traditional events in Sicily are religious, and the pageants are often pagan. The events include knights tournaments (Palio), jousts, parades, and shows and exhibitions.
Beside the traditional events (the “big events”), in Sicily every year you will find lots of folklore, shows, exhibitions and fairs. You will notice many billboards advertising sagre. A sagra in Sicily is a local festivity, very often involving food.
Events in Sicily :
- Sagra del Suino Nero dei Nebrodi is held on January 5, 2014 in Longi
- Sagra della Ricotta is held on January 6, 2014 in Sant'Angelo Muxaro
- Battesimo di Gesù is held on January 6, 2014 in Piana degli Albanesi
- Sant’Antonio Abate is held on January 17, 2014 in Giarratana
- Festa di San Corrado is held on February 19, 2014 in Noto
- SS. Crocifisso is held on May 3, 2014 in Monreale
- Festa del Muzzuni is held on June 24, 2014 in Alcara Li Fusi
- Madonna della Neve is held on August 5, 2014 in Giarratana
- Festa della Madonna della Neve is held on August 5, 2014 in Santa Lucia del Mela
- Sagra della Cipolla is held on August 14, 2014 in Giarratana
- Festa del mandorlo in fioreis held in the month of February in Agrigento
- Cavalcata dei Giganti is held on August 14, 2014 in Messina
- Processione della Vara is held on August 15, 2014 in Messina
- Vara dell'Assunta is held on August 15, 2014 in Randazzo
- Arruccata dei Ventimiglia is held on August 15, 2014 in Castelbuono
- ‘Acchianata ‘a Madonna is held on August 15, 2014 in San Mauro Castelverde
- Sagra della Provola Basicotana is held on August 19, 2014 in Basicò
- Festa di San Giovanni is held on August 29, 2014 in Ragusa
- Festa di Santa Barbara is held on December 4, 2014 in Tremestieri Etneo
- Festa di Santa Lucia is held on December 13, 2014 in Siracusa
- Sagra della Cuccìa is held on December 13, 2014 in San Michele di Ganzaria
- Presepe Vivente is held on December 24, 2014 in Agira
- 'U Fistinu - Festino di Santa Rosalia is held on July 10, 2014 in Palermo
- Sagra del Pesce is held on August 11, 2014 in Pozzallo
- Festa della Madonna del Soccorso is held on February 1, 2014 in Sciacca
- Festa di San Filippo d’Agira is held on June 29, 2014 in Roccafiorita
- Palio dei Normanni is held on August 13, 2014 in Piazza Armerina
- Festa di San Giuseppe is held on March 18, 2014 in Valguarnera Caropepe
- San Giuseppe is held on September 19, 2014 in Giarratana
- Festa di San Biagio is held on February 2, 2014 in Militello Rosmarino
- Presepe Vivente is held on December 24, 2014 in Custonaci
- Festa di San Giacomo - La Scala Illuminata is held on July 24, 2014 in Caltagirone
- Festa di San Paolo is held on June 27, 2014 in Palazzolo Acreide
- Festa di Sant'Agata is held on February 3, 2014 in Catania
- Festa della Madonna della Luce is held on September 6, 2014 in Mistretta
- Processione dei Nuri is held on May 9, 2014 in Trecastagni
- Il Vascelluzzo is held on June 22, 2014 in Messina
- Sagra della Manna is held on August 17, 2014 in Pollina
- Antico Corteo Nuziale is held on August 17, 2014 in Petralia Sottana
- Frottola is held on June 29, 2014 in Cefalù
- Sacra Rappresentazione is held on April 17, 2014 in Marsala
- Festa di San Giuseppe is held on April 21, 2014 in Carlentini
- Processione dello Spirito Santo is held on June 9, 2014 in Gangi
- L'Incontro dei Giganti is held on April 20, 2014 in Aragona
- 'A Paci is held on April 20, 2014 in Comiso
- Vasa Vasa is held on April 20, 2014 in Modica
- Diavolata e Angelicata is held on April 20, 2014 in Adrano
- Abbalu di li Diavuli is held on April 20, 2014 in Prizzi
- Festa del Sacro Cuore di Maria is held on August 24, 2014 in Castelvetrano
- Sagra della Scaccia e della Nciminata is held on July 20, 2014 in Modica
- Festa di San Ciro is held on August 22, 2014 in Marineo
- U Fistinu di Santu Vitu is held on August 21, 2014 in Mazara del Vallo
- Sagra del Cappero is held on June 2, 2014 in Malfa
- Festa dei Santi Alfio, Cirino e Filadelfo is held on May 4, 2014 in Sant'Alfio
- Sagra della Pesca di Leonforte is held on October 5, 2014 in Leonforte
- Festa dei Burgisi e Sagra della Spiga is held on August 3, 2014 in Gangi
- Festa di San Calogero is held on July 6, 2014 in Agrigento
- Sagra del Miele is held on October 3, 2014 in Sortino
- Festa di San Cono is held on September 1, 2014 in Naso
- Santa Croce e Sagra del Tataratà is held on May 25, 2014 in Casteltermini
- Cavalcata di San Giuseppe is held on March 22, 2014 in Scicli
- Gesù Nazareno is held on June 8, 2014 in San Giovanni Gemini
- Infiorata is held on May 18, 2014 in Noto Login
- Sagra del Ficodindia e dei Prodotti Tipici Locali is held on October 19, 2014 in Roccapalumba
- Palio di San Vincenzo Martire is held on May 11, 2014 in Acate
- Festa di San Filippo Siriaco e Sagra delle Nespole is held on May 17, 2014 in Calatabiano
- Festa dei Nuri, in onore di San Sebastiano is held on May 3, 2014 in Melilli
- Festa della Madonna di Mare is held on July 27, 2014 in Torrenova
- Festa di San Giorgio is held on May 25, 2014 in Ragusa
- Festa della Madonna delle Milizie is held on May 31, 2014 in Scicli
- Santissimo Crocifisso di Aracoeli is held on March 29, 2014 in San Marco D'Alunzio
- Passione di Cristo is held on April 18, 2014 in Riesi
- La Cerca is held on April 18, 2014 in Collesano
Maybe you have already been to one or more of these events in Sicily . Write your comment to help who has not been there yet, suggesting how it is best to reach the location, where is best to park, and everything you think might be helpful. When it will be you participating to an event in Sicily for the first time, you will find out how precious the suggestions of visitors are.
