Emigrants' Festival
The homecoming of Bompietro's diaspora, featuring Mass, Madonie flavors, and ballroom dancing in the square
Edition 2026 not confirmed to date
This edition has not been confirmed by the organiser to date. We recommend checking before going.
About Emigrants' Festival
A festival celebrating the homecoming
The Emigrants' Festival is one of the most cherished traditions in Bompietro, an agricultural village nestled in the Madonie Park, in the province of Palermo. Every year on August 23rd, the town gathers around its emigrant children who return from every corner of the globe for the occasion. It is a joyful moment of reunion for the entire community, where homes fill up again and the squares bustle with life.
Post-war origins
The festival originated in the post-war period, when numerous residents left the Madonie village to seek work in Switzerland and Germany. That diaspora sparked the need for a day of their own: a fixed appointment, always on August 23rd, where those who left can reconnect with their roots, embrace relatives and friends, and rediscover the flavors of their childhood. Today, the Emigrants' Festival is a well-established tradition that has punctuated the Bompietro summer for over half a century.
The day: faith, flavors, and folklore
The religious heart of the day is the Holy Mass for emigrants scattered around the world, celebrated for those returning to the village. Immediately after, the event becomes popular and convivial:
- Tasting of local Madonie products: fava beans, chickpeas, cheeses, and various pastries, all fruits of the territory's agricultural vocation (cereals, legumes, olive oil, almonds, and grapes).
- Folklore and popular traditions, with musical performances and entertainment along the town streets.
- Ballroom dancing in the square to end the evening, closing the day in joy and bringing different generations together.
A bridge to the patronal feast
The Emigrants' Festival takes place in the days preceding the patronal feast of Maria SS. delle Grazie, celebrated at the end of August: together, the two events form the highlight of the summer in Bompietro. For visitors, it is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic Madonie village, far from the tourist trails, and to grasp the deep bond that unites a Sicilian town with its historical emigration.
Emigrants' Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Emigrants' Festival in Bompietro has not yet been officially announced with definitive dates and a program. The event traditionally takes place on August 23rd, in the days leading up to the patronal feast of Maria SS. delle Grazie. As soon as the organizers announce the calendar, this page will be updated with times, locations, and program details.
Practical information — Emigrants' Festival
Location
The festival is held in the historic center of Bompietro (PA), a village in the Madonie Park about an hour and a half from Palermo.
How to get there
By car: from the A19 Palermo-Catania motorway, take the Tre Monzelli or Irosa exit, then follow the SS120 towards the Madonie. The village is easily reached by car.
When
Traditionally every year on August 23rd, in the days leading up to the patronal feast of Maria SS. delle Grazie.
Costs
Popular event with free admission; tastings of local products are organized in the square.
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Where does it take place — Emigrants' Festival
Centro storico di Bompietro