Grape Harvest Festival

The Grape Harvest Festival in Piedimonte Etneo

The Grape Harvest Festival is the flagship event of Piedimonte Etneo, a small town in the Metropolitan City of Catania situated on the northeastern slopes of Mount Etna, in the heart of a territory with centuries-old winemaking traditions. Established in the late 1990s, the festival has grown into one of the most beloved food and wine events in eastern Sicily, transforming the entire village into a grand open-air stage every third weekend of September.

A festival born from the land

Piedimonte Etneo has built much of its identity around viticulture: the vineyards climbing the volcano's slopes, the lava-stone wine presses, and the local wine culture are deeply embedded in the landscape and the collective memory of the town. The Grape Harvest Festival was created to celebrate this bond, bringing back to the streets the ancient rituals of grape harvesting, grape-stomping, and tasting the new must.

Program and activities

For three days, the streets and squares of the historic center come alive with stalls and activities. Highlights of the festival include:

• Folklore parades with decorated Sicilian carts, groups in traditional attire, and performers from across the island;
• Grape-stomping barefoot in the outdoor stone press, featuring the "pistata da racina" and the distribution of fresh must as a symbol of abundance;
• Food and wine stalls offering tastings of Etna wines and traditional rural dishes;
• Craft fairs and markets featuring typical Sicilian products;
• Traditional games, music, singing, and folk dancing;
• Free concerts and evening shows in the town squares.

An event for the whole community

Organized by the Municipality of Piedimonte Etneo, the Grape Harvest Festival offers free admission and involves local associations, wineries, producers, and residents. The evening shows are centered in Piazza Madre Chiesa, while tastings and markets are spread along the main street and the historic center. It is an ideal opportunity to discover the authentic side of the Etna villages, savor the wines and products of the Sicilian Region, and experience the atmosphere of a popular festival still deeply connected to its roots.