The festival celebrating the Motta walnut among the Alcantara Gorges
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.
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.
The program blends culture with popular festivities. Days begin with roving performances accompanied by traditional Sicilian instruments, while the event features:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 to the event is free. Tastings and products at the stalls are available for purchase.
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Centro storico e Piazza Croce
Piazza Croce, 1, 98030 Motta Camastra