Catenanuova Carnival

A community celebration in the heart of Sicily

The Catenanuova Carnival is the most anticipated winter event for this small town in the province of Enna, in the heart of Sicily. Promoted and organized by the Municipality of Catenanuova, it turns the town's squares and streets into an open-air stage filled with color, music, confetti, and cheer for several days in February. The festival is deeply rooted in the local social fabric, bringing together children, families, and groups of friends every year in a spirit of shared celebration.

Allegorical floats and costumes

The heart of the event is the parade of allegorical floats, the result of patient work by local groups and associations, which brings the procession to life along the main streets of the center. Alongside the floats, masked groups of children and adults and individual costumes parade by, in a succession of outfits, choreography, and satire that reflects the best of the Sicilian carnival tradition. The town's squares, from Piazza Marconi to Piazza Aldo Moro, host the presentations of the participants and the central moments of the festival.

Registration, jury, and awards

The Catenanuova Carnival features registration for various competition categories: individual costumes, masked groups of children and adults, and allegorical floats. A jury evaluates originality, attention to detail in costumes, and entertainment value, awarding prizes and recognition. In past editions, this has included cash prizes for groups and floats, as well as gifts for all participating children. It is this participatory nature that makes the festival a moment of strong cohesion for the entire community.

Tradition and local identity

In the province of Enna, Carnival is a vibrant and widespread tradition, celebrated with parades and floats in numerous towns across the area. Catenanuova, located in the Dittaino river valley on the border with the province of Catania, experiences the festival as an opportunity for encounter and renewal of community bonds. The spirit that drives it is one of merriment and inclusion: a people's festival where, as the organizers remind us, only fun should prevail.

An event for the whole family

Free and held outdoors, the Catenanuova Carnival is designed for all ages. Children are the stars with their costumes and groups, while adults bring the floats and elaborate choreography to life. For a few days, the town's historic center fills with music, dancing, and masks, confirming the Carnival as one of the most authentic expressions of popular culture in this corner of inland Sicily.