Motta Camastra Walnut Festival
Edition 2026 Brass band Gastronomy Local produce

Motta Camastra Walnut Festival

The festival celebrating the Motta walnut among the Alcantara Gorges

Motta Camastra — Messina (283) Since 2004
Dates 03 Oct — 11 Oct 2026
Location Motta Camastra (283)
Prices Free
Status Confirmed

About Walnut Festival

Every autumn, the medieval village of Motta Camastra, just a stone's throw from Taormina and the Alcantara Gorges, comes alive for the Walnut Festival: two weekends dedicated to the territory's iconic fruit. The historic center streets fill with roving folk performances, Sicilian cart parades, flag-waver and drummer displays, and brass band concerts, while stalls offer tastings of dishes and products based on walnuts and other delicacies from the Alcantara Valley. A free event that weaves together taste, tradition, and rural identity.

The signature festival of Motta Camastra

The Walnut Festival is the most anticipated event in Motta Camastra, a small medieval village perched in the Province of Messina, Sicily, a few kilometers from Taormina and overlooking the stunning Alcantara Gorges. Every autumn, the festival celebrates the Motta walnut, a fruit cultivated for generations on the valley's terraces and now a true emblem of the town's economy and identity.

Two weekends of tradition

The event spans two weekends, transforming the historic center into a journey of flavors and entertainment. Among the stone alleys, the festival stalls and the Motta in Vetrina exhibition open up, where visitors can sample products made from walnuts alongside other local delicacies: cheeses, cured meats, sweets, and fresh produce.

Folklore and entertainment through the village streets

The program blends culture with popular festivities. Days begin with roving performances accompanied by traditional Sicilian instruments, while the event features:

  • parades of characteristic Sicilian carts;
  • displays by flag-wavers and drummers;
  • concerts and parades by the local brass band;
  • seminars on the nutraceutical properties of walnuts and book presentations;
  • workshops and cooking shows with local chefs.

Taste and culinary culture

The heart of the festival remains the tastings: in Piazza Croce, you can savor sweets, sauces, and walnut-based dishes, in a journey that highlights the local supply chain and the bond between the community and its typical product. Over the years, the Walnut Festival has also become a forum for discussion, with seminars dedicated to protecting the territory and promoting the excellence of the Alcantara Valley.

A village to discover

Visiting the Walnut Festival also means discovering Motta Camastra: its alleys, the views over the gorges, and the authentic atmosphere of a town that guards its rural roots. An event suitable for families, tourists, and those looking for the truest side of Sicily, far from mass tourism routes.

Walnut Festival — edition 2026

The 22nd edition of the Motta Camastra Walnut Festival is confirmed for the weekends of October 3-4 and 10-11, 2026. Once again, the medieval village at the foot of the Alcantara Gorges will host local product markets, walnut-based dish tastings, educational workshops, folk performances, and entertainment for the whole family. The detailed program will be published by the Municipality in the weeks leading up to the event.

Walnut Festival 2026

The Municipality of Motta Camastra has confirmed the dates for the 22nd Walnut Festival, scheduled for the two weekends of October 3-4 and 10-11, 2026. The event will return to enliven the historic center with markets of local products, tastings of walnut-based specialties, educational workshops, shows, and entertainment moments for the whole family.

As per tradition, roving folk performances, the Sicilian cart parade, flag-waver displays, and local brass band concerts are expected, along with the free shuttle bus from the sports field to the center. The detailed program with times and guests will be released by the Municipality in the weeks preceding the event.

Highlights Walnut Festival 2026

Local product markets, walnut-based dish tastings, folk performances, Sicilian carts, and family workshops.

Prices Walnut Festival 2026

Free admission. Tastings and purchases at stalls are paid. Free shuttle bus from the sports field to the historic center.

Practical information — Walnut Festival

How to get there

Motta Camastra can be reached by car via the A18 Messina-Catania motorway (Giardini Naxos exit), continuing along the SS185 towards the Alcantara Valley. The nearest train station is Taormina-Giardini, from where you can continue by car or bus.

Parking and shuttle

During the festival, from 10:00 AM to midnight, a free shuttle bus runs from the sports field to the historic center, which is recommended given the limited traffic access in the village.

Admission

Admission to the event is free. Tastings and products at the stalls are available for purchase.

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Where does it take place — Walnut Festival

Centro storico e Piazza Croce

Piazza Croce, 1, 98030 Motta Camastra

Contact Walnut Festival

Tel
+39 0942 985007

Walnut Festival in brief

Brass band Gastronomy Local produce Farmers market Heritage Folk traditions Folklore Family Outdoor Free Messina

History of Walnut Festival