Polpette in Festival

Polpette in Festival, a feast of flavor in San Gregorio di Catania

In the heart of the town of San Gregorio di Catania, on the slopes of Mount Etna and just a few kilometers from the provincial capital, Polpette in Festival has become a highly anticipated date on the food and wine calendar of the Catania province. The event celebrates one of the most popular symbols of home cooking—the meatball—in a contemporary way, showcasing its thousands of regional and international variations.

Over forty recipes in Piazza Immacolata

The festival brings Piazza Immacolata to life with stalls from restaurateurs, street food chefs, and local producers, offering over forty different recipes: traditional meatballs in sauce, fried versions, Middle Eastern kofta, Spanish albóndigas, vegetarian legume-based options, and seafood interpretations. Accompanying the dishes is a selection of Sicilian craft beers, wines from the best Etna wineries, and local spirits.

More than just food: culture, music, and sustainability

Alongside the tastings, the program offers a packed schedule of talks, masterclasses, experiential workshops, cooking shows led by chefs, and live concerts every evening. Themes range from the Mediterranean Diet to Sicilian viticulture, from food communication on social media to zero-waste cooking, in a journey that weaves together taste, local identity, and sustainability. There are also activities dedicated to children, with educational workshops on food.

An event rooted in the territory

Organized by the Municipality of San Gregorio di Catania in collaboration with Scirocco Mediterranean Creative Lab, with the support of the Regional Department of Agriculture, the festival has grown edition after edition to become one of the most popular gastronomic showcases in the Catania area. Admission is free: dishes can be purchased directly in the square, in a convivial and family-friendly atmosphere that attracts food lovers and curious visitors from all over Eastern Sicily every evening.