Bronte Green Pistachio PDO Festival

The green gold of Mount Etna in celebration

The Bronte Green Pistachio PDO Festival is the most important food and wine event in Bronte, a town in the province of Catania perched on the western slopes of Mount Etna, in Sicily. Every year in October, the historic center transforms into a grand expo dedicated to the pistachio, the famous green fruit that grows on the volcano's ancient lava flows and has earned Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, as well as recognition as a Slow Food Presidium.

A centuries-old tradition

Now in its 35th edition, the festival has been a highly anticipated event for decades, drawing thousands of visitors from across Sicily and beyond. The pistachio harvest in Bronte traditionally takes place every other year, carried out by hand across the rugged, terraced terrain surrounding the town: an agricultural and cultural heritage that the festival celebrates by putting local producers, farmers, and artisans at the forefront.

Stalls, tastings, and local products

The heart of the festival is the gastronomic trail that winds through the town. Piazza Spedalieri hosts the stalls of certified PDO producers, while Corso Umberto and the surrounding streets are lined with various other vendors. Pistachios can be enjoyed in every form: from the raw nut to pesto, from arancini to traditional Sicilian pastries, and from artisanal gelato to creams and liqueurs.

• Stalls featuring Bronte Green Pistachio PDO producers
• Tastings of sweet and savory pistachio-based dishes
• Craft and local product market
• Conferences and meetings dedicated to the pistachio and the region

Folklore and entertainment

Alongside the culinary offerings, the festival features a rich entertainment program: parades of flag-wavers, musicians, and majorettes, traditional Sicilian carts, folk groups in costume, musical performances on stages set up in the squares, and the traditional Sicilian puppet theater (Opera dei Pupi). There is also plenty of entertainment for children, including games and activities, as well as guided tours of Bronte's historic center.

2026 Edition

The 2026 edition of the Bronte Green Pistachio Festival is scheduled for October, spanning two weekends. The detailed program, including the lineup, schedule, and events, will be published by the organizers in the weeks leading up to the event. Admission to the festival is free.