Festival of Roots and De.Co. Products
Traditions and local excellence in Petralia Sottana, in the heart of the Madonie mountains
About Roots and De.Co. Festival
The roots of a Madonie village
The Festival of Roots and De.Co. Products is the event through which Petralia Sottana, one of the most evocative villages in the Madonie range near Palermo, celebrates its traditions and the products that tell its story. The De.Co. label (Municipal Denomination of Origin) certifies the deep bond between a product—or tradition—and its place of origin: a tool for promotion and development that puts the community and its heritage at the center.
A festival within the Patron Saint's feast
The initiatives dedicated to roots and De.Co. products take place at the heart of the feast of the Patron Saint, San Calogero, which marks one of the most significant moments of the year in Petralia Sottana. Tradition dictates that the patronal celebrations begin on June 11th with the "sittina a San Calogero" and culminate on June 18th with the grand procession. It is within this framework of faith and popular participation that the events designed to showcase local traditions and the productive excellence of the Madonie territory are embedded.
The Procession of the Vara
The most spectacular moment remains the Procession of the Vara, the heavy structure that carries the statue of the Saint through the streets of the historic center, from the Mother Church Basilica to the Church of Saints Giovanni Battista and Calogero Eremita. The procession makes eighteen stops, in memory of the day of the Saint's death, accompanied by the sound of firecrackers, the beating of drums, and the traditional "stinnardu cu i cianciani" competition. A popular liturgy that has united the entire community for generations.
Between memory and identity
The promotion of roots is also linked to the collective memory of the village: among the local initiatives, there is space for the commemoration of the War Memorial, a symbolic landmark of Petralia Sottana. Exhibitions, cultural moments, and events dedicated to De.Co. products offer visitors the opportunity to rediscover the bond between territory, culture, and a sense of belonging in one of the most authentic centers of the Madonie Park.
Why it's worth attending
- The De.Co. certified food and wine excellence of the Madonie territory;
- The atmosphere of the San Calogero patronal feast, blending faith and popular tradition;
- The spectacular Procession of the Vara in the historic center;
- A stone village nestled in the Madonie Park, to be discovered step by step.
Roots and De.Co. Festival — edition 2026
An edition between faith, memory, and identity
The 2026 edition of the Festival of Roots and De.Co. Products takes place from June 17 to 21, within the festivities of the patron saint San Calogero. It is a special year, also marked by the centenary of the War Memorial of Petralia Sottana, inaugurated in 1926. The initiatives dedicated to traditions and De.Co. identity products accompany religious and civil celebrations, enhancing the cultural, historical, and social heritage of the Madonie community.
The calendar alternates between liturgical moments, processions, and popular events with cultural appointments: commemorations, historical presentations, photographic and documentary exhibitions on the War Memorial, and initiatives designed to showcase the territory's productive excellence. The invitation from the municipal administration, led by Mayor Pietro Polito, is addressed to citizens, emigrated Petralesi, visitors, and tourists.
Programme Roots and De.Co. Festival 2026
Patronal celebrations
According to tradition, the patronal festivities begin on June 11th with the "sittina a San Calogero" and culminate on June 18th with the grand procession.
The Procession of the Vara
- Procession of the Vara with the statue of the Saint along the streets of the historic center, from the Mother Church Basilica to the Church of Saints Giovanni Battista and Calogero Eremita;
- Eighteen stops along the route, in memory of the day of the Saint's death;
- Firecrackers, drum rolls, and the traditional "stinnardu cu i cianciani" competition.
Festival of Roots and De.Co. Products
- Initiatives dedicated to local traditions and De.Co. certified identity products;
- Recreational shows in the square and cultural events on Madonie tradition.
Centenary of the War Memorial (1926-2026)
- Religious commemorations for the fallen and official ceremony with wreath-laying by civil, military, and religious authorities;
- Historical and cultural presentations, photographic and documentary exhibition, and presentation of the Monument's restoration project.
Detailed schedules are published by the organizer in the official flyer.
Highlights Roots and De.Co. Festival 2026
Prices Roots and De.Co. Festival 2026
Practical information — Roots and De.Co. Festival
Location
The events take place in the historic center of Petralia Sottana (90027), in the province of Palermo, in the heart of the Madonie Park.
How to get there
By car: from Palermo, take the A19 Palermo-Catania motorway (exit at Tremonzelli or Scillato) and follow the internal roads of the Madonie. The village is located at an altitude of about 1,000 meters in a mountainous area: comfortable clothing and footwear are recommended.
Information
For the updated program, please refer to the Municipality of Petralia Sottana, the organizer of the event.
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Where does it take place — Roots and De.Co. Festival
Centro storico di Petralia Sottana