Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows — Cerda Summer Festival

The patronal feast of Maria SS. Addolorata

Our Lady of Sorrows (Madonna Addolorata) is the patron saint of Cerda, a town in the Province of Palermo perched on the first slopes of the Madonie mountains in Sicily. The feast takes place every year on August 16th and is the most cherished moment for the local community, drawing back many emigrants who return home for the occasion. The religious core of the celebration is the solemn evening procession: in the late afternoon, the statue of the Virgin leaves the Mother Church and winds through the streets of the historic center, accompanied by a brass band, religious confraternities, and a crowd of faithful. The day concludes in the main square with a traditional fireworks display at midnight, lighting up the sky above the town.

The Cerda Summer Festival

The patronal feast is part of the broader Cerda Summer Festival, a summer program promoted by the Municipality of Cerda with the support of the Sicilian Region and in collaboration with local associations. For a town of just over five thousand inhabitants, it is a surprisingly rich program that turns the squares into open-air stages for about two weeks in August.

• Concerts and live music in the square, featuring national artists and local bands
• Theater and cabaret shows, often with well-known Sicilian performers
• White Night along Via Roma and Piazza La Mantia, with street artists, dancing, and entertainment until late at night
• Tastings of local products, from spiny artichokes to local cheeses and wines

Cerda and its artichoke

Cerda is known throughout Sicily as the "city of the artichoke": the spiny artichoke of Cerda is the town's signature product and also accompanies the summer evenings with food stalls and specialties. While the August feast is primarily a religious appointment, it also serves as a showcase for the popular traditions, cuisine, and identity of this corner of the Madonie.

An event for the whole community

Between the procession, fireworks, concerts, and evenings in the square, the Cerda Summer Festival is a celebration for all the people of Cerda: a symbol of history and culture passed down from generation to generation, and an opportunity for visitors and tourists to discover an authentic town in the Palermo hinterland.