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Sicily has numerous events and festivities held throughout the year of religious, historical, ethnic and gastronomic value. Every town and village will also celebrates things like Easter and Christmas and have their own range of festivities – keep an eye out when you call through. However some things to keep in mind and plan for include the following events.
January
Byzantine Epiphany Celebrations - 6 January (Piana degli Albanesi, Palermo) Every January in the cold part of the year there are Byzantine Epiphany Celebrations at Palermo's Martorana Church and Piana degli Albanesi nearby.
February
Feast of Saint Agatha - 3-5 February (Catania) Sant'Agatha is the patron saint of Catania and the feast day to honour her is one of the best in Sicily – although patron saints are celebrated at different times across the island. Sant' Agatha was a teenager who received amorous advances from a Roman prefect. She rejected them so he tortured her for her faith, including severing her breasts. Every year up to a million people gather in Catania to honour the martyred woman with processions, shows and exhibits. These include a procession of wooden structures with images of the Saint's martyrdom, groups who sing in the Cathedral square, decorations on houses, barbecued meat and sweets stalls and fireworks.
Almond blossom festival - 3-12 February 2011 (Agrigento). This traditional folk festival, known locally as the Sagra del Mandorlo, celebrates all things almond with parades featuring Sicilian carts and people in historical costumes, shows, craft exhibits, concerts and fireworks. The date listed above is for 2012.
Carnival Week (Acireale, Sciacca, Termini Imerese). Carnival (Carnivale in Italian) takes place 40 days before Easter so the date changes every year. And the celebrations sort of builds in the weeks before the actual Carnival which is on Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday with parades of actors in masks, floats, games and holiday foods. The most famous place for Carnival in Sicily is considered Acireale.
March
Saint Joseph's Day (all Sicily) - 19 March St Joseph is credited in Sicily with saving people from famine and so his feast day is celebrated throughout the country with with special pastries, breads and dinners.
Good Friday (all major cities but particularly Alcamo, Caltanissetta, Castelvetrano, Enna, Erice, Marsala, Messina, Milazzo, Piana degli Albanesi, Ragusa, Trapani) - date varies each year. Easter events are celebrated with gusto in Sicily and there are some very religious processions and passion plays. In Enna there are the silent processions of the various fraternities and Orthodox ceremonies in places like Piana degli Albanesi.
April
Ricotta Festival (Vizzini) - 25 April. The Sagra della Ricotta in Vizzini is a celebration of the famous Italian cheese and is famous around Sicily. There are actually three days of celebrations with it culminating on the 25th. Beyond eating cheese there are also local plates available and plenty of cultural events and music.
Artichoke Festival (Cerda) - 25 April. It has been reported that artichokes have grown in Sicily as early as 287 BC and that they may have originated here. Whatever the case, if you like artichokes you will definitely want to visit Cerda and if you come for the festival in April you can also enjoy artichoke themed entertainment, live bands and parades.
Procession dei Misteri of Trapani (Trapani) - Good Friday through Easter Saturday. This event changes dates every year but always begins on Good Friday and continues through to Easter Saturday. It is one of the longest running religious festivals in Sicily both in terms of from when it first originated (1612) but also in the length of the festival – always16 hours but sometimes well over 24. It's well worth the effort if you're anywhere in the area. The "misteri" are wooden sculptures of the Passion that are carried around the town over the festival by members of the city's guilds. They date back to the 17th and 18th century.
May
World Festival on the Beach (Mondello, Palermo) - 14-20 May. This event is usually held the second week of May (dates vary and the one listed above is for 2012). This festival celebrates everything from windsurfing to sailing, beach volleyball, music and golf.
Baroque Spring Festival (Noto) – third weekend in May. Dates vary for the Primavera Barocca so check the schedule for the year you attend. As the name suggests it is a festival in which Noto greets the spring and is celebrated via music and exhibitions. However the main events include Infiorata – where flowers are laid by artists along Nicolaci street on different themes and the Baroque Procession of people in 18th century dress.
Feast of Saint George Ceremonies and Fireworks (Ragusa) - Last Sunday of May. Dates also vary for this event. This is a great time to visit Ragusa when the whole city, particularly Ibla, is illuminated and festive. There are processions taking the saint around the city and fireworks.
June
Sicilian Carriage Festival (Taormina) – Fridays in September and October and the 5th, 12th, 18th and 25th of June. You will probably notice the Carretta Siciliana (native horse cart) during your travels around Sicily so this festival in May is a good way to see a lot of them at once and to enjoy some of the religious and cultural events associated with the festival. The carts are brightly coloured, the horses decorated and even the drivers are theatrically dressed.
July
Taormina Film Festival (Taormina) - 11-18th. An internationally renowned film festival. The dates listed above were for 2011.
Festino di Santa Rosalia (Palermo) - 10-15 July. Santa Rosalia is the patron saint of the capital city of Palermo. It includes processions, festivals, plays and fireworks.
La Scala Illuminated (Caltagirone) - 24-25 July and also 14-15 August. This is one of the more famous festivals in Sicily whereby the renowned ceramic staircase of Caltagirone are lit with lanterns. The event is held in honour of St James the patron saint of Caltagirone.
Kals'Art music and art festival (Palermo) – mid July – mid September. A two month long festival of music, cinema and theatre performances in the streets, parks and piazzas of the city. It is held into mid-September.
August
Madonna della Luce (Cefalu) - 13-14 August. Nighttime boat procession off the cost from Kalura to the old harbour.
Parade of the giants (Messina) – 13-15 August. The Passeggiata di Giganti is Messina's biggest cause for celebration throughout the year with floats celebrating Mata and Grifone the Moor, the mythical founders of the city.
Palio dei Normanni (Piazza Armerina) – 14-15 August. A must if you're in Sicily at this time of year. The palio includes medieval and Renaissance equestrian games and shows, costumed processions and parades.
Maritime Festival (Siracusa). This is a rowing regatta held around the atmospheric quarter of Ortygia and also includes processions.
September
Madonna della Luce (Mistretta) 7-8 September. This religious event includes a procession of two enormous warriors following the statue of the Madonna around town. There are floats, plays and costumed participants.
Couscous Festival (San Vito Lo Capo) - 20-25 September. This is a gastronomic exposition with plenty of opportunities to sample Sicilian and North African cuisine. The date above is for the 2011 festival.
October
International Holy Music Festival (Monreale) – 12-21 October. During this festival music groups perform holy music or chants and hymns in the city's famous medieval abbey. The festival lasts for a week and is known locally as Settimana di Musica Sacra. The dates above are for 2011.
Rally Etna (Etna region) 2-8th October. An international event for vintage cars.
November, December
Nativity scenes (various). Exhibits of nativity scenes can usually be seen in most Sicilian cities at varying times in December.
Christmas (various), 25th December. There are plenty of more events held in Sicily throughout the year. We hope this gives you plenty to choose from – buona festa!
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