The most beautiful Carnivals in Sicily

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The most beautiful carnivals in Sicily in 2024. Discover the traditions, customs, food and wine tastings and other scheduled events.

Carnival in Sicily is characterized by numerous events that are always very engaging for visitors, which numerous Sicilian municipalities organize. An opportunity to visit suggestive places, to discover ancient customs and taste traditional Sicilian dishes.

How is Carnival celebrated in Sicily?

In addition to events, demonstrations and parades, in many countries, parties are organized in clubs or even in private rooms during which people dance, laugh and joke until late at night. On festive days, especially Fat Thursday and Carnival Sunday, it is customary to eat macaroni with five holes seasoned with pork ragù.

Carnival in Sicily 2024: dates and scheduling

Agrigento area

Carnival in Sciacca

The Carnival in Sciacca is one of the most popular and well-known Carnivals in Sicily. Parades of imposing allegorical papier-mâché floats, masked groups, music, satirical scripts, a rich program of concerts, cultural and food and wine events.
13, 16,17,18 february 2024
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Catania and Etna area

Carnival in Acireale

The Carnival in Acireale is the most beautiful Carnival in Sicily and is considered among the most beautiful carnivals in Italy. The Parades of Allegorical Floats are spectacular, performing grandiose movements and extraordinary transformations.
Contributing to the majesty of the Acireale Carnival are the traditional parades of flowered floats.
From 28 Gen to 13 Feb 2024
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Carnival in Adrano

The Carnival in Adrano it's the Sicilian Carnival at the Arena dell'Etna: group dancing, Chiacchiere Festival, costumed children's festival, Pasta with the five purtusi festival, a typical dish of the Sicilian Carnival tradition.
February 2024
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Carnival in Misterbianco

The Carnival in Misterbianco boasts the most beautiful costumes in Sicily. The parade of masked groups of Misterbianco features real protagonists tailoring works of art, the creation of which requires months of work, meticulous research and imagination.
Some of the most beautiful costumes are still jealously guarded today and can be admired at the Carnival Museum.
3 - 13 February 2024
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Cefalù and Madonie Villages

Carnival in Castelbuono

The Carnival in Castelbuono livens up the festive days with a rich program of events: the historical balls during which local satire groups perform, the parade of allegorical floats, shows and live music, games and entertainment for children.
11, 13 February 2024
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Carnival in Castellana Sicula

The Carnival in Castellana Sicula it is considered the most beautiful Carnival of the Madonie. Dances, balls and parades of allegorical floats and masked groups attract thousands of visitors every year.
11 February 2024
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Central Sicily Area

Carnival in Aidone

The Carnival in Aidone is the longest carnival in Sicily because it is celebrated until the Saturday following Shrove Tuesday. According to an ancient tradition, carnival parties are organized in various halls of the town where people dance at rhythm of scotz, a very ancient traditional dance.
February 2024
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Carnival in Grammichele

The Carnival in Grammichele offers a rich program of events: parades by masked groups, performances by street artists, dancing in the square, live shows, entertainment for the little ones and the big final party that closes the Carnival celebrations.
February 2024
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Carnival in Mazzarino

The Carnival in Mazzarino it is also known as the Maktorion Carnaval. Parades of allegorical floats and masked groups, tastings of typical products, dancing and music in the square enliven the streets of the city center every year.
February 2024
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Carnival in Milena

The Carnival in Milena
February 2024
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Carnival in Ramacca

The Carnival in Ramacca it is an event rich in tradition. Every year it provides a full program of events with parades of masked groups, dancing in the square, shows and live music, games and entertainment for the little ones.
8, 10, 11, 13 February 2024
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Carnival in Regalbuto

The Carnival in Regalbuto is famous for the parades of masked groups where almost a thousand paraders fill the main street and is considered among the most important carnival events in Sicily. The most characteristic moment is that of the contradanze. The quadrille dance is very particular.
February 2024
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Carnival in San Cono

The Carnival in San Cono is known for the Carrivalata di San Cono a traveling theatrical performance during which men on horseback recite texts in dialect verses which narrate allegories about the professions, customs and customs of the peasant world.
February 2024
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Isole

Carnival in Lipari

The Carnival in Lipari known as Aeolian Carnival, it is a historic Carnival dating back to the seventies which still today involves the inhabitants and visitors of the island, with parades of allegorical floats and masked groups, shows, live music, games and entertainment for the little ones.
February 2024.
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Carnival in Salina

The Carnival in Salina is rich in traditions, joy and good food. During the celebrations, curious competitions are usually organized in which the participating teams, all strictly in masks, compete in a series of fun competitions. The festival ends on Shrove Tuesday with a large sausage and a theatrical representation of the death of King Carnival.
February 2024
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Messina area

Carnival in Acquedolci

The Carnival in Acquedolci boasts a great tradition in papier-mâché processing techniques and every year it attracts thousands of visitors thanks to the parades of allegorical papier-mâché floats and masked groups.
February 2024
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Carnival in Brolo

The Carnival in Brolo it is a celebration deeply felt by the people of Brolo: allegorical floats and masked groups parade through the streets of the village where the stand for tasting typical products. On Shrove Thursday the traditional maccarunata, i.e. the eating of macaroni, usually takes place.
February 2024
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Carnival in Capo D'Orlando

The Carnival in Capo D'Orlando it is a festival full of events and fun: parades of masked groups, musical and entertainment shows, entertainment and games for children, tastings of typical local products, performances by street artists and dancing evenings in the square.
February 2024
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Carnival of Murgo in Gioiosa Marea

The Carnival in Gioiosa Marea has its roots in the tradition of the Argentine carnival, in fact the Murga is staged, a super colorful procession led by Murgo in his traditional dress and his band.
February 2024
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Carnival in Novara di Sicilia

The Carnival in Novara di Siciliais known for the Sagra del Maiorchino which is held every year in the period of Carnival.
February 2024
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Carnival in Piraino

The Carnival in Piraino begins on Thursday evening with the fat evening, dancing, music shows and entertainment, and ends on Shrove Tuesday with the Murgo and Bear Parade at Gioiosa Marea.
February 2024
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Carnival in Petrosino

The Carnival in Petrosino includes a busy calendar of events: parades of allegorical floats and masked groups along the main streets, dancing evenings, shows and live music. It is also traditionally organised a food and wine itinerary and stands set up for the tasting of typical local products.
February 2024
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Carnival in Rodì Milici

The Carnival in Rodì Milici is famous for the characteristic Months of the Year, an event dedicated to worship and tradition, which offers, in agro-pastoral dialect, a sort of personification of the twelve months.
February 2024
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Carnival in Cattafi - San Filippo del Mela

The Carnival in Cattafi, ancient farmhouse today a hamlet of San Filippo del Mela, it is among the oldest carnivals in Sicily and every year attracts numerous spectators attracted by the originality of its mask, u Scacciuni, with long conical hats, colorful dresses with kilts, and a myriad of colored ribbons.
February 2024
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Carnival in Santa Lucia del Mela

The Carnival in Santa Lucia del Mela it is an event rich in folklore and tradition. In addition to the traditional parades of allegorical floats, masked groups and tastings of typical recipes, of particular interest are the parades of festively adorned Sicilian motoapes, and the re-enactment of the cataletto, a carnival ritual with very ancient origins.
February 2024
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Carnival in Saponara

The Carnival in Saponara is famous for Pantomime of the bear and the Princely court which recalls an event that actually happened in the eighteenth century when Prince Alliata managed to capture a bear that had caused massacres in the village and to celebrate the event he paraded the bear in chains through the city streets.
February 2024
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Carnival in Terme Vigliatore

The Carnival in Terme Vigliatore includes a rich program of events: the traditional parade of allegorical floats, the masked parade, the theater workshop, games and fun for everyone with various local dance schools. The Termense Carnival usually also offers tastings of typical products and cooking competitions.
February 2024
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Palermo area

Carnival in Balestrate

The Carnival in Balestrate is known for the traditional Ballo dei Pastori also known as Masked Counterdance. The most beautiful feature of the Balestrate Carnival is that the spectator is the protagonist: you can take inspiration from a cart, from the chosen themes, dress up and join the procession without registering.
11, 13, 18 February 2024
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Carnival in Casteldaccia

The Carnival in Casteldaccia includes a full program of events with parades of allegorical carts and masked groups, with games and entertainment for the little ones, with shows and live music, with festivals and tastings of typical specialties of the carnival in Sicily.
9 - 13 February 2024
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Carnival in Cinisi

The Carnival in Cinisi animates the streets of the village with parades of papier-mâché floats, masked groups and sketches led by Lu Nannu (the grandfather), the typical mask of the place. On Carnival Monday, the traditional historical cavalcade of Cinisi usually takes place.
February 2024
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Carnival in Corleone

The Carnival in Corleone it is famous for its traditional mask "u Riavulicchiu". The Corleone Carnival ends on Shrove Tuesday with the masked ball in the square and with the reading of the will of the nannu (nice little grandfather), who is finally burned to indicate the end of the Carnival.
February 2024
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Carnival in Mezzojuso

The Carnival in Mezzojusois famous for the popular pantomime of Mastro Campo, re-enactment of the assault that the Count of Modica made on the Castle to conquer Queen Bianca of Navarre a unique folklore page of its kind throughout the national territory.
February 2024
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Carnival in Montelepre

The Carnival in Montelepre it is famous for U matrimoniu, the most original carnival parade in Sicily. A grotesque wedding party with a rich wedding banquet where typical local products abound, dances and fun parades.
February 2024
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Baroque Carnival in Palermo

The Carnival in Palermo is a recollection of memory and of the ancient traditions that made it famous in the past Carnival anniversary in the Sicilian capital, with its masks, the customs and lifestyles of the eighteenth century.
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Carnival in Piana degli Albanesi

The Carnival in Piana degli Albanesi, the Kalivari ju mjuath takes place according to an ancient popular tradition which, since ancient times, desecrates the values classics of patriarchal Sicily, and makes the woman the protagonist of this party with the right to choose, mock and invite men to the dance.
February 2024
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Carnevale di Termini Imerese

The Carnival in Termini Imerese is one of the oldest carnivals in Italy and among the most beautiful in Sicily. It offers a calendar full of events with parades of allegorical floats and masked groups, musical and entertainment shows. The traditional masks of Nannu and Nanna are very particular, witnesses of its ancient origins.
4, 10, 11, 13 February 2024
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Ragusa area

Carnival in Chiaramonte Gulfi

The Carnival in Chiaramonte Gulfi has ancient origins: parades of allegorical floats, masked balls but above all the traditional sausage festival. Chiaramonte Gulfi is considered the capital of the Iblei Carnival.
10, 11, 12, 13 February 2024
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Carnival in Scicli

The Carnival in Scicli it is also known as >U Carnaluvari ra Stratanova, with reference to Corso Umberto I (new road) where it takes place the traditional parade and where street artists, musicians, masked groups parade and where food stands are also set up.
10 - 13 February 2024
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Selinunte and Belice Valley

Carnival in Bisacquino

The Carnival in Bisacquino is the oldest Carnival in Sicily. Its origins date back to at least the end of the seventeenth century as evidenced by traditional masks such as U zuppiddu, a peasant figure with an egg in one hand and a cricket in the other, and the Domino, women dressed in a dark tunic and a mask.
February 2024
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Carnival in Salemi

The Carnival in Salemi is famous for the traditional mask of The Gardeners of Salemi, men in nineteenth-century velvet clothes in the Burgisi style holding a pantograph tool through which they offer various sweets and sweets to the public.
February 2024
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Siracusa area

Carnival in Avola

The Carnival in Avola in addition to the traditional parades of allegorical floats led by the Carnival King, is characterized by the traditional event of the dialect literary competition. On Shrove Tuesday the carnival ends with a majestic burning of the puppet of the Carnival King.
2024 February 8 - 13
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Carnival in Melilli

The Carnival in Melilli stands out for the imagination, creativity and beauty of its allegorical floats and masked groups. There are many events, musical and entertainment shows organized during the celebrations.
February 2024
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Carnival in Palazzolo Acreide

The Carnival in Palazzolo Acreide it is characterized by typical Syracusan masks. Great participation in the traditional Festival of Cavati with pork sauce, and at tastings of Palazzolese sausage and other typical local products.
February 2024
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Taormina area

Carnival in Antillo

The Carnival in Antillo is famous for its traditional mask of u picuraru (the sheep), which recalls rural life. The masks of u picuraru and the free cowbell ringers parade through the streets of the town, scaring and involving visitors.
February 2024
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Carnival in Calatabiano

The Carnival in Calatabiano includes a busy program of events with parades of allegorical floats and masked groups, musical and entertainment shows, live music and dancing in the square.
February 2024
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Carnival in Francavilla di Sicilia

The Carnival in Francavilla di Sicilia is the most beautiful Carnival in the Alcantara Valley and is probably one of the oldest of all eastern Sicily as it has been taking place for more than a century. It is a party that is characterized for its dancing balls and above all for its irony and transgressiveness and the evident erotic meaning of its symbols.
February 2024
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Carnival in Taormina

The Carnival in Taormina it is a highly anticipated event in which the colors of the masks and masked groups mix with the evocative scenery of historic center of Taormina. Numerous events are organized during the celebrations: musical and entertainment shows, exhibition and tasting stands.
February 2024
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Trapani area

Carnival in Alcamo

The Carnival in Alcamo is a relatively young but very heartfelt and participated carnival. Every year citizens and tourists crowd the streets of the historic center to take part to the numerous events organized including parades, live music, shows, tastings of typical products and the traditional carnival lottery which offers great prizes.
February 2024
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Carnival in Paceco

The Carnival in Paceco also known as Carnevalata di Paceco, involves the setting up of stands of typical products and local crafts. The festival comes to life on Carnival Sunday with the parades of traveling masks and allegorical floats.
February 2024
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Carnival in Valderice

The Carnival in Valderice every year it attracts numerous visitors to attend shows, dances and the traditional allegorical float parades. During the celebrations of the Valdericino Carnival it is possible to participate in the tasting of typical traditional products, and in particular couscous ca canni di porcu, i.e. couscous with pork.
9, 10, 11 February 2024
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In ancient times the Carnival celebration in Sicily represented an opportunity for Sicilian women to court and be courted by men. As is known, in fact, a few decades ago, sicilian women's social lives and their interactions with men were quite limited. In the shelter of masks and dominoes, however, on carnival days it was willingly accepted the custom of girls being a little "flirtatious", making fun of men, in a role-play to whom they were often taught by the most expert Sicilian mothers and grandmothers. In some small municipalities it is still possible to find traces of this cultural heritage, and there are couples who have been happily married for many years and have started their own love story on carnival days.