Ricotta and Local Products Festival
Edition 2026 Gastronomy Cheese Local produce

Ricotta and Local Products Festival

A celebration of pastoral flavors in Limina, nestled in the Peloritani Mountains

Limina — Messina (283) Since 2024
Dates 16 May — 17 May 2026
Location Limina (283)
Prices Free
Status Finished

About Ricotta Festival

In Limina, a charming village in the Messina area overlooking the Agrò Valley, the Ricotta and Local Products Festival celebrates the pastoral traditions of the Peloritani Mountains every spring. Featuring sheep shearing demonstrations, the artisanal production of fresh warm ricotta, and stalls showcasing local olive oil, wine, cheeses, and cured meats, this event organized by the Pro Loco of Limina turns the village streets into a culinary trail. Evenings are brought to life by folk music and traditional groups, coinciding with the Feast of Saint Philip of Agira, the town's patron saint.

A festival rooted in pastoral tradition

The Ricotta and Local Products Festival of Limina takes place in Limina, a small town in the province of Messina perched at an altitude of about 550 meters on the Ionian side of the Peloritani Mountains, along the picturesque Agrò Valley. In this land of ancient mines and deep religious devotion, sheep farming and dairy production have been the heart of the local economy for centuries. The festival was created to honor this heritage, sharing the deep bond between the village, its pastures, and the authentic flavors of rural Sicily with visitors.

From milk to warm ricotta

The most anticipated moment is the demonstration of ricotta production: local cheesemakers showcase traditional techniques live, from freshly milked milk to the warm ricotta served to those present. To complete the experience, the sheep shearing demonstration takes visitors back to the ancient gestures that once defined the lives of Peloritani shepherds. Along the town center streets, you will find stalls featuring local products, where you can purchase and taste extra virgin olive oil, wine, cheeses, cured meats, and other Liminese specialties.

Music, folklore, and devotion

The days are enlivened by musical performances and folk groups performing traditional Sicilian dances and songs, offering an authentic immersion into the island's popular culture. The festival coincides with the Feast of Saint Philip of Agira, the patron saint of Limina, who according to tradition passed through the village on his journey to Agira: a blend of the sacred and the secular that gives the event a special warmth and attracts thousands of visitors from neighboring towns every year.

A culinary journey through the village

The event, organized by the Pro Loco of Limina APS in collaboration with the Municipality, centers around Piazza Marconi and extends throughout the historic center. It is an ideal opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the province of Messina, far from mass tourism routes, amidst mountain landscapes, genuine hospitality, and the flavors of the truest Sicily.

Ricotta Festival — edition 2026

The third edition of the Ricotta and Local Products Festival took place on May 16 and 17, 2026, with a new route starting from the Town Hall and winding through Via Antonello da Messina, Via Amendola, and Via Garibaldi up to Piazza Marconi. Two days of tastings, demonstrations, and shows in the heart of the Peloritani Mountains.

The 2026 edition, the third of the event, featured a renewed route along the streets of Limina's center, with stalls opening on Saturday at 6:00 PM, followed by the sheep shearing demonstration and the live ricotta production. On Sunday, stalls opened in the morning, enlivened by musical entertainment from I Spassusi folk Duo, a performance by the stilt walkers of Circo Rock, and dances by the folk group Triskèlion. The festival's great classics were confirmed: the preparation of warm ricotta, sheep shearing, and stalls featuring local oil, wine, cheeses, and cured meats.

Programme Ricotta Festival 2026

Saturday, May 16
6:00 PM — Stalls open and sheep shearing demonstration
7:00 PM — Ricotta production demonstration
Sunday, May 17
10:30 AM — Stalls open
12:00 PM — Musical entertainment with I Spassusi folk Duo
12:30 PM — Ricotta production demonstration
3:30 PM — Circo Rock stilt walkers performance
6:00 PM — Sheep shearing demonstration
7:30 PM — Ricotta production demonstration and Triskèlion group show
9:30 PM — Stalls close

Highlights Ricotta Festival 2026

  • Live production of warm ricotta
  • Sheep shearing demonstration
  • Stalls featuring local products: oil, wine, cheeses, cured meats
  • Folk performances with I Spassusi folk Duo, Triskèlion, and Circo Rock stilt walkers
  • New route through the town center up to Piazza Marconi

Prices Ricotta Festival 2026

<p>Admission is free. Tastings and purchases at the stalls are at free prices.</p>

Practical information — Ricotta Festival

How to get there

Limina can be reached by car from the SS114 Ionian road by taking the exit towards Roccalumera/Santa Teresa di Riva, then driving up the Agrò Valley along the SP12. The nearest train station is in Santa Teresa di Riva, on the Messina-Catania line, from where you can continue by car inland.

Admission and hours

Admission is free. Stalls generally open in the late afternoon on the first day and in the late morning on Sunday. Comfortable footwear is recommended for navigating the sloping streets of the village.

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Where does it take place — Ricotta Festival

Piazza Marconi

Ricotta Festival in brief

Gastronomy Cheese Local produce Heritage Folk traditions Folklore Crafts Outdoor Free Messina

History of Ricotta Festival