Feast of Saint Bartholomew — Saint Bartholomew and MORE Festival

The most heartfelt celebration in the Aeolian Islands

The Feast of Saint Bartholomew is the most important religious and popular event in the Municipality of Lipari, in the Province of Messina, and across the entire Aeolian Islands archipelago. Saint Bartholomew the Apostle is the patron and protector of the Aeolian people: tradition holds that his relics arrived in Lipari in the 6th century, and devotion to the saint has shaped island life ever since. The festivities culminate on August 24th, the liturgical feast day, but enliven the island for several days with a calendar that weaves together the sacred and the secular.

Religious rites and the procession

The spiritual heart of the festival is the solemn procession that winds through the historic center down to Marina Corta. Confraternities carry the precious 18th-century silver statue of the saint and the famous vascelluzzo, a refined gold and silver reliquary kept in the Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew, on their shoulders. August 24th unites the Aeolian community in a moment of deep faith before the festivities shift to the waterfront for the evening celebrations.

The Saint Bartholomew and MORE Festival

Alongside the religious dimension, the Municipality of Lipari hosts the Saint Bartholomew and MORE Festival every year, a rich program of performances that brings nationally renowned artists and local talent to the Marina Corta stage. Concerts, DJ sets, comedy shows, and artistic LED illuminations transform the seaside village into an open-air theater, attracting residents, tourists, and vacationers from across the archipelago.

The grand finale fireworks

The most anticipated moment is the fireworks display on the evening of August 24th: a massive pyrotechnic show reflecting over the waters of the Marina Corta gulf, closing the festival in a blaze of light. This is complemented by a second fireworks show upon the return of the procession, in an atmosphere that blends tradition, spirituality, and entertainment.

When and where

The festival takes place in Lipari, the main island of the Aeolian archipelago, between the historic center and the picturesque village of Marina Corta. The 2026 dates are confirmed for August 21st to 24th; the detailed artistic program, including guest names, will be announced by the organizers in the weeks leading up to the event.