Mankarru Folk Festival
The Sicilian folk music festival in Santa Lucia del Mela
Edition 2026 not confirmed to date
This edition has not been confirmed by the organiser to date. We recommend checking before going.
About Mankarru Folk Festival
The Mankarru Folk Festival
The Mankarru Folk Festival is a celebration of Sicilian folk music held every summer in Santa Lucia del Mela, a picturesque hilltop village in the Province of Messina, Sicily. The event takes its name from the town's ancient Arabic toponym, Mankarru, which fell into disuse around 1094 when Count Roger commissioned the church dedicated to Saint Lucy at the foot of the castle. The festival was born as a tribute to the deepest roots and identity of this community in the Milazzo area.
Music and folk tradition
The heart of the evening is authentic Sicilian folk music, with the sounds of the tambourine, marranzano, friscaletto, and accordion accompanying traditional songs, dances, and tarantellas. The stage in Piazza Milite Ignoto has hosted groups and ensembles that safeguard the island's sonic heritage, including I Beddi and La Coppola Nera, who perform a repertoire that weaves together peasant memory, popular devotion, and village festivities.
A tribute to Sicilian roots
The Mankarru Folk Festival is much more than a concert: it is a community moment where generations come together to rediscover their history through music. The event also honors the great protagonists of the Sicilian folk scene, with awards dedicated to historical figures of the island's folk music—custodians of an artistic language that has told the soul of Sicily for decades.
An evening in the heart of the village
The event is part of the rich summer calendar of Santa Lucia del Mela and the celebrations in honor of the Madonna della Neve, which enliven the town in August with shows, food festivals, religious events, and cultural appointments. The setting of Piazza Milite Ignoto, in the historic center dominated by the castle, offers an intimate and popular atmosphere where music blends with the scents and flavors of the Sicilian summer.
Why attend
- A free open-air evening in the heart of the village of Santa Lucia del Mela
- The best of Sicilian folk music with live folk bands
- Traditional dances, songs, and tarantellas
- An event that highlights the identity and history of the Messina territory
- The chance to discover an authentic village in the Nebrodi area of Sicily
Mankarru Folk Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Mankarru Folk Festival in Santa Lucia del Mela (Province of Messina) has not yet been officially confirmed. The event, dedicated to Sicilian folk music, is usually held in Piazza Milite Ignoto in August, as part of the town's summer calendar. To stay updated on dates, the program, and guest artists, we recommend following the official channels of the Municipality and the organizers.
Practical information — Mankarru Folk Festival
Where
Piazza Milite Ignoto, in the historic center of Santa Lucia del Mela (ME), Sicily. Postal code 98046.
How to get there
By car: take the A20 Messina-Palermo motorway, exit at Milazzo, then follow signs for Santa Lucia del Mela (approx. 10 km). By train: Milazzo station on the Messina-Palermo line, then local bus connection. Nearest airports: Catania-Fontanarossa and Reggio Calabria.
Admission
Free open-air event. We recommend arriving early to secure a spot in the square.
When
The festival takes place in the summer, during August, as part of the Madonna della Neve celebrations.
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Where does it take place — Mankarru Folk Festival
Piazza Milite Ignoto