Saint Rosalia Festival

A patronal feast over three centuries old

The Saint Rosalia Festival is the patronal feast of Campofelice di Roccella, a town in the Metropolitan City of Palermo overlooking the Tyrrhenian coast of the Madonie, in Sicily. Its origins date back to 1699, when the town's founder, Don Gaspare La Grutta Guccio, had the Mother Church built and consecrated to Saint Rosalia, following the emotional wave of devotion to the 'Santuzza' who, according to tradition, saved Palermo from the plague of 1624. Since then, every year in early September, the people of Campofelice solemnly celebrate their patron saint: the 2024 edition was the 323rd, a sign of a devotional continuity that spans the centuries.

The days of the festival

The festivities traditionally take place from September 1st to 4th, culminating on the 4th, the anniversary of Saint Rosalia's death (which occurred on September 4, 1160). The celebrations are preceded by a preparatory triduum and itinerant performances by musical bands in the town's neighborhoods, accompanied by the traditional collection of offerings.

• September 3rd - Day of the First Vespers: Vigil Mass in the Mother Church, itinerant band performances, and collection of offerings.
• September 4th - Day of the Saint: Solemn Eucharistic liturgy in the Mother Church in Piazza Garibaldi, the traditional firing of firecrackers at 11:30 AM, followed by the 'Day of Remembrance' rite at the war memorial with a Carabinieri honor guard and the laying of a laurel wreath by the Mayor.

The procession and fireworks

The most anticipated moment is the exit of the patron saint's statue from the church: at dusk on September 4th, the statue is carried on the shoulders of devotees who, in a procession, walk through the town streets decorated with festive lights and market stalls. The evening concludes with a fireworks display that illuminates the sky over the Madonie coast. During the festival days, there is no shortage of entertainment, with music in the square and concerts: in recent editions, the final evening has hosted well-known names from the Italian music scene.

Between faith, folklore, and identity

The Saint Rosalia Festival is much more than a religious anniversary: it is the heart of the identity of Campofelice di Roccella. It attracts worshippers from all over Sicily and brings emigrants back to town, who return to their land of origin to share in the veneration of the patron saint. The traditional fair with its stalls fills the main street and the town's viewpoint, in an atmosphere that blends popular devotion, Madonie folklore, and community celebration.