Palagonia AranciaFest – Red Orange Festival

AranciaFest, the Red Orange Festival of Palagonia

In the heart of the Catania Plain, the municipality of Palagonia dedicates its most cherished festival to the PGI Red Orange, the citrus fruit that has made the region famous and has represented the community's primary economic and cultural resource for generations. The Palagonia AranciaFest – Red Orange Festival is an event that highlights not only the product but the entire citrus supply chain, bringing together farms, producers, industry professionals, and citizens for a grand spring celebration.

A journey through taste and tradition

Throughout the event, the squares of the historic center — particularly Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza Rosario Livatino — come alive with stalls from local producers, where you can sample fresh oranges, juices, freshly squeezed drinks, jams, traditional desserts, and numerous gastronomic creations based on red oranges. Alongside the food, there is space for local crafts and a true widespread experience that weaves together Sicilian flavors, art, and popular traditions.

Shows, music, and conferences

AranciaFest is more than just gastronomy: the program alternates between entertainment, folk performances, and evening concerts in the squares, with in-depth sessions on the industry. Meetings include conferences dedicated to water resource management for high-quality agriculture and the logistics and export of citrus fruits, a sign of an event that also looks toward the future of the region's production.

• Stalls and tastings from PGI Red Orange producers
• Folk performances and entertainment in the squares
• Evening concerts and cabaret
• Conferences on the citrus supply chain and exports
• Excursions to the Archaeological Park of Santa Febronia

Palagonia, capital of the red orange

Located in the province of Catania, in Sicily, Palagonia is one of the most important centers for red orange cultivation, a citrus fruit that finds the perfect conditions for ripening here in the volcanic soil and ideal climate. The festival, which returned in grand style after a few years' hiatus, represents an opportunity for the town to promote its PGI product and boost tourism in the Calatino area. Admission is free, and the event is organized by the Municipality of Palagonia with the involvement of local associations, schools, exhibitors, and volunteers.