Mascali Carnival

The Mascali Carnival

The Mascali Carnival is the festive event promoted by the Municipality of Mascali, in the province of Catania, within that stretch of the Ionian Sicily that lies between the slopes of Mount Etna and the sea. It is a popular, neighborhood-focused event, designed primarily for children and families, which fills the streets of the town with color and music during the Carnival days.

The costume contest

The heart of the event is the costume contest: organized groups and individual participants register in advance at the Mayor's Office and then parade in costume through the town streets. The jury evaluates the costumes across various categories, and at the end of the festival, the top finishers are awarded prizes, while all participants receive commemorative medals. It is a simple yet deeply felt tradition that celebrates the imagination and craftsmanship of those who create the costumes and disguises.

A community celebration

More than just a grand parade of floats, the Mascali Carnival is a community celebration: schools, local associations, youth groups, and volunteers collaborate to make the day a success. The event takes place in the center of Mascali and concludes with a convivial awards ceremony. It fits into the rich Carnival tradition of the province of Catania, which includes famous events like those in Acireale and Ramacca, and represents a highly anticipated date in Mascali's winter calendar.

Mascali and its surroundings

Mascali is a town in the Metropolitan City of Catania, overlooking the Ionian Sea and dominated by the massive presence of Mount Etna. Its territory, historically marked by the 1928 lava flow, today blends the vibrancy of the historic center with the coastal hamlets of Fondachello and Sant'Anna. Participating in the Mascali Carnival means discovering an authentic corner of Eastern Sicily, far from the major tourist flows, where the festival remains a truly local affair.