Maletto Strawberry Festival

The Maletto strawberry, a treasure of Mount Etna

Perched at an altitude of about 1,000 meters on the northwestern slopes of Mount Etna, the town of Maletto in the province of Catania has been synonymous for decades with a small, intensely fragrant fruit: the Maletto strawberry. The volcanic soil, abundance of natural springs, and a cool, breezy climate give this strawberry an intense flavor, firm flesh, and an unmistakable aroma that has made it famous far beyond the borders of Sicily. The Strawberry Festival was created specifically to celebrate this agricultural excellence and the identity of the entire town.

A tradition born in 1986

The first edition of the festival dates back to 1986, when the strawberry fields cultivated on the slopes of Etna had already become the heart of the local economy. Since then, the event has grown to become one of the most anticipated summer gatherings in the Etna region, transforming the streets and squares of the historic center into a vibrant market of flavors and colors for an entire weekend. The 2026 edition will be the 39th.

What to expect at the festival

The program primarily brings Via Umberto and Piazza IV Novembre to life, where food stalls are set up. The offerings always include:

• tastings of fresh strawberries, artisanal jams, desserts, and strawberry gelato;
• the famous maccheronata and strawberry risotto offered to visitors;
• the preparation of a giant strawberry cake distributed for free;
• the crowning of Miss Fragolina and Miss Baby Fragolina;
• folk performances, flag-wavers, concerts, and traditional Sicilian folk music.

Flavor, music, and folklore

The festival alternates between gastronomic moments and a rich entertainment calendar: roving folk groups, flag-waver exhibitions, evening DJ sets, and live concerts that have featured prominent Italian music artists over the years. Tastings are almost always free, and the atmosphere is that of a typical Sicilian village feast, with families, children, and tourists filling the streets until late at night.

Maletto and the Etna region

Visiting the Strawberry Festival is also the perfect opportunity to discover Maletto, a small village within the Etna Park overlooking the woods and vineyards of northern Etna. Between tastings, visitors can head to the Rocca del Castello and various viewpoints where the view stretches across the volcano and the valley. The Maletto strawberry, a cornerstone of local agricultural tradition, is the common thread of a festival that tells the story of the rural and welcoming soul of Sicily.