The island's big festivals, season by season, each with its fixed date or the rule that sets it.
Most of Sicily's big festivals fall in February, Holy Week and summer. Catania celebrates Sant'Agata on February 3–5, Trapani, Enna and Caltanissetta hold their Easter processions during Holy Week, Palermo honors Santa Rosalia on July 14–15 and Messina pulls the Vara on August 15. Easter 2027 falls on March 28.
Dates change every year; check with the organizer before you travel.
a Saturday in March near March 19, set by the town each year
Riders in farmers' costume lead horses whose harnesses are worked with thousands of stock flowers into scenes of the Holy Family. In the evening, bonfires burn in the neighborhoods.
Good Friday from early afternoon into Holy Saturday (2027: March 26–27)
The city's guilds carry 18 sculpture groups and two statues through Trapani for about 24 hours.
Wednesday to Friday of Holy Week (2027: March 24–26)
On Wednesday morning the Real Maestranza walks to the cathedral, and the small Varicedde follow in the evening. On Holy Thursday evening, 16 large Vare with scenes of the Passion move through the old town; Good Friday belongs to the Cristo Nero.
Palm Sunday to Easter, main procession on Good Friday (2027: March 21–28, procession March 26)
Hooded members of the historic confraternities carry the biers of the dead Christ and of the Addolorata through the town.
the Friday after the second Sunday of Easter (2027: April 9)
Scicli honors its co-patron, the hermit Guglielmo Buccheri; the town offices close for the day.
mid-May, around the third Sunday of May
Artists lay pictures made of flower petals along Via Corrado Nicolaci. The Infiorata has been held since 1980.
late May, most recently on the last Saturday of May
A play recalls the legend of a battle in 1091 in which Mary is said to have appeared on a white horse. On Piazza Italia, the Madonna appears on horseback.
June; in 2026 it ran June 10–14, the 2027 dates are not out yet
A competition and evening screenings, with the big nights in the ancient theater.
festival days up to June 24
The patron saint's festival ends with the procession; the festival days also include the Varchiata a Mare.
June 29 and July 9
On June 29 the statue of Saint Peter is carried out to meet the town's patron, and both stay in the cathedral. On July 9 they go in procession through the town.
July 14–15, with events in the days before
On the evening of July 14 the triumphal car moves along the Cassaro to the sea, ending with fireworks. On July 15 the urn of the saint is carried in procession. The festival dates back to 1624.
July 24–25, for the feast of the town's patron, San Giacomo
On the steps of Santa Maria del Monte, thousands of paper lanterns lit with oil form a design that changes every year.
August 14–15
On August 14 the giant horseback figures Mata and Grifone parade through the city. On August 15 the faithful haul the Vara, about 14 meters (46 feet) high, on long ropes from Piazza Castronovo to the cathedral; fireworks close the day.
August 24
In the evening the procession leaves Marina Corta with the silver reliquary known as the Vascelluzzo, followed by fireworks by the sea.
the last Sunday of August (2027: August 29), octave the following Sunday
Bearers carry the silver urn of the town's patron through Noto, preceded by confraternities and the tall candle poles called cili. Some of the faithful walk barefoot from their own towns.
September 15
The patron's feast, with Masses and a solemn procession; in the days before, the statue visits the outlying districts.
the third Sunday of September (2027: September 19)
After a nine-day novena, members of the Associazione Marinai d'Italia carry the statue up the path to the sanctuary.
the Sundays of October
Each Sunday is given to one product of Etna: grapes, honey, apples, mushrooms, chestnuts.
around October 7
The festival of the town's patron saint ends with an evening procession.
December to early January
The town's nativity scenes are open over the Christmas season, and on request during the rest of the year.
January 20
Acireale's best-loved festival: barefoot devotees pull the 18th-century fercolo through the streets.
February 3–5, octave on February 12
On February 3 the great candles of the Candelora are carried through the city. On February 4 and 5 the faithful carry the patron saint's relics through Catania on a silver fercolo; the procession of the 5th ends only on the morning of the 6th.
in the weeks before Ash Wednesday, through Mardi Gras (2027: February 9)
Parades of allegorical and flower floats. The Fondazione Carnevale di Acireale announces the exact days each year.
February 19
On the anniversary of the patron's death in 1351, his silver urn is carried in procession through the town; the main festival follows in late August.
During Holy Week, which in 2027 runs March 21–28. Caltanissetta's processions run Wednesday through Friday; in Enna and Trapani, Good Friday is the high point, and the Misteri in Trapani last about 24 hours from March 26 into March 27.
In June, the Taormina Film Festival and San Giovanni in Pozzallo; in July, San Pancrazio in Taormina (July 9), the Festino di Santa Rosalia in Palermo (July 14–15) and the Scala illuminata in Caltagirone (July 24–25); in August, the Vara in Messina (August 15), San Bartolomeo on Lipari (August 24) and San Corrado in Noto on the last Sunday.
Every year on February 3–5; the procession of February 5 ends on the morning of the 6th. The octave follows on February 12.
Patron saints' feasts usually have a fixed day, such as Santa Rosalia on July 15. Holy Week follows Easter, which falls on March 28 in 2027. The organizers set the days of the Acireale carnival, the Infiorata in Noto, the Cavalcata in Scicli and the Taormina Film Festival anew each year.
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