January

1st-6th January - New Year, Taormina

Puppet shows, folk-singing and concerts

6th January - Orthodox Epiphany, Piana degli Albanesi

Pocession with traditional costumes and oranges

Mid January - Festival of Sant'Antonio, Nicolosi

February

Early February - Festival of Sant'Agata, Catania

A variety of food stalls, events, fireworks and a procession

End February - Carnevale, throughout the island

3 day event with procession, fireworks and music

February/March

Late February / Early March - Almond blossom festival, Agrigento

A torchlit procession with traditional dancing and singing leading to the Valley of the Temples

February / March - Carnival of Acireale

One of the most beautiful and exciting carnivals on the island with a parade around the town centre

March

Mid March - L'Altaro di San Giuseppe (Festival of St Joseph), Salemi

Sculptures are made out of bread and decorate the town and altars in the churches

March/April

Pasqua (Easter) and Holy Week

Processions and traditional costumes

Good Friday - The Procession of the Mysteries, Trapani and other areas

Starting in the afternoon and continuing into the Saturday a procession of statues, called the Sacred Mysteries, are taken through the city

Easter Sunday - Madonna Vasa Vasa, Modica, Ragusa

Two parades along the streets with statues of the Virgin Mary and Christ

Easter Sunday - Diavolata (The Devils), Adrano, Catania

Good and Evil are represented in this celebration to show how Good triumphs over Evil

Easter Sunday - The U Ballu di Diavuli (Devil's Dance), Prizzi, Palermo

The masked devils (some frightening) run through the village until the Virgin Mary and Christ will impede them in the afternoon

April

23rd April - San Giorgio (St George's Day), throughout the island

Processions in traditional costumes

May

Mid May - Pilgrimage of Athletic Souls, Trecastagni

Traditional pilgrimage with participants barefoot and topless or in costume with colourful carts running along the main road from Catania to Trecastagni

Third Week of May - Infiorata, Noto

Celebrated with floral mosaics to welcome the spring

Mid May - Beer Bubbles, Palermo

A 4 day beer festival with a wide variety of different craft beers to try

Late May - A Nivarata, Acireale

A Sicilian granita festival

Late May - Cantine Aperte

Tanslates as 'open cellars' and wine makers welcome the public for wine tasting and to learn about the wine making process

May / June - Greek Theatre Festival, Syracuse

3 traditional Greek comedies and tragedies performed over several weeks

June

Mid June - Inycon Wine Festival, Menfi

Wine tasting, exhibitions, workshops and an opportunity to taste Sicilian food

Mid June - Pesce a Mare, Aci Trezza

A symbolic fishing ceremony perforned at sea

Last week - RS:X European Open Championship, Mondello

Annual windsurfing competition

End June / Beginning July - Taormina Film Festival, Taormina

International Film Festival in Taormina at the Greek Theatre (please click here for events at the theatre) 

July

Mid July - Festival of St Rosalia, Palermo

Fireworks and celebrations of the city being saved from the plague

Mid July - Syracuse - Malta Boat Race, Syracuse

Annual event starting from Malta in even years and Syracuse in odd years

End July - Stragusto, Trapani and various locations across the island

A Sicilian street food festival

End July / Early August - Ortigia Sound System, Ortigia

A 5 day music festival

August

Early August - Regatta, Ortigia

A boat race between the 5 traditional sections of the city around Ortigia island in Syracuse

Mid August - Il Palio dei Normanni, Piazza Armerina

Celebrating Roger I of Sicily taking the town in 11th century

15th August - Ferrogosta, throughout the island

A procession with fireworks celebrated across the island

Late August - San Giovanni Battista (St John the Baptist), Ragusa

Celebrations in Ragusa

Late August - Procession of Madonna delle Luci, Cefalu

A boat procession in Cefalu harbour

September

Early September - Le Castellana di Caccamo (The Landlady of Caccamo), Caccamo

A medieval parade with some 500 characters representing the notaries of the town's history over 8 centuries

Beginning of September - Pilgrimage of Monte Pellegino, Palermo

Pilgrimage in honour of St Rosalia

Mid September - Sherbeth Festival, Palermo

An ice cream festival on the streets of Palermo

End of September - International couscous festival, San Vito Lo Capo

November

Mid November - Festa di San Martino, Catania

Wine tasting, food and traditional sweets

December

13th December - Festival of St Lucy, Syracuse

A procession through the streets of Syracuse

25th December - Christmas

Please note: Event details are subject to change.