Crispelle (and Eel) Festival

A fried food festival in the heart of Mount Etna

The Crispelle (and Eel) Festival takes place in Viagrande, a town nestled on the slopes of Mount Etna in the province of Catania, Sicily. Every year in January, Viale della Regione transforms into a culinary trail entirely dedicated to traditional Sicilian frying, one of the most beloved and deeply rooted expressions of Etna's popular cuisine.

Crispelle, the stars of the festival

The absolute protagonists are the crispelle, the irresistible fried pastries that mark the winter months in Catania and its surrounding towns. Along the festival stalls, you will find honey-drizzled rice crispelle, scented with orange zest and cinnamon, as well as savory versions with anchovies and ricotta—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. There is also a tribute to the finest tradition of the crispiddari, the master fryers, with the famous competition for the largest crispella, which rewards the most impressive and perfectly crafted dough every year.

Eel and devotion to Saint Mauro the Abbot

The festival's name also evokes an ancient Viagrande custom: the ritual consumption of eel, which for decades was linked to the festivities of the patron saint, Saint Mauro the Abbot, celebrated in mid-January. Once, eel was an essential dish on the feast day tables; today, the tradition survives primarily as a culinary memory, but it remains in the event's name and the town's collective consciousness.

Music, folklore, and atmosphere

Beyond the food, the event offers live music, folk performances, entertainment, local crafts, play areas for children, and stunning artistic lighting that decorates the town center. In recent editions, the festival has concluded with musical performances and fireworks, in a convivial atmosphere that attracts families and visitors from neighboring towns in the Catania area.

A staple of the Catanese winter tradition

The Crispelle Festival is one of the most characteristic events of the winter culinary calendar in the province of Catania: an opportunity to rediscover the flavors of the Etna region, the culture of Sicilian frying, and the warm hospitality of Viagrande. Admission to the festival area is free; crispelle and other specialties can be purchased at individual stalls.