Ibbisu Village Fest

Ibbisu Village Fest: Celebrating Gesso in the Peloritani

The Ibbisu Village Fest is one of the most anticipated summer events in Gesso, a small hamlet of the Municipality of Messina situated along a ridge of the Peloritani mountains, at an altitude of about 265 meters and roughly fifteen kilometers from the city center. "Ibbisu" is the local dialect name for the village, and the festival was born as a moment of identity and gathering for the community and for those who, during the summer, travel up to rediscover this corner of the province of Messina.

The event is promoted by the Associazione Culturale Gesso la Perla dei Peloritani, chaired by Tonino Macrì, with the patronage and collaboration of the Municipality of Messina. Its stated goal is to promote the area by reviving popular traditions, both in terms of food and wine, as well as music and culture.

Street food, Porchetta Festival, and tradition

The heart of the festival is its convivial atmosphere: for several nights, the village fills with street food stalls and local products, with the famous Porchetta Festival being one of the most popular culinary offerings, alongside drinks, desserts, and local specialties. There are also local craft stalls that bring the streets and the square of the village's Mother Church to life.

Shows, cabaret, and music

The nights of the Ibbisu Village Fest alternate between cabaret, live music, DJ sets, and fashion parades. Recent editions have featured well-known faces from the Sicilian comedy and music scene, while dance nights like the Ibbisu Village Dance, featuring 90s-themed DJ sets, turn the square into a large open-air dance floor. There is also space for fashion shows curated by local agencies and moments dedicated to charity and social causes.

A Peloritani village to discover

Attending the Ibbisu Village Fest also means discovering Gesso and its landscape: the trails of the Peloritani, the views over the Strait of Messina, and the intimate atmosphere of a village that, for a few nights in August, returns to the spotlight. The festival, which has now reached its tenth edition, is a staple of the Messina summer, bringing together residents, returning emigrants, and curious visitors in search of authenticity.