San Nicola Festival of Ganzirri

San Nicola Festival of Ganzirri 2025

The 2025 edition of the patronal feast of Ganzirri (Municipality of Messina) took place from Thursday, August 7 to Sunday, August 10. Weekdays alternated between liturgical moments, with morning lauds and masses and evening vespers, and festive events: Friday, August 8, was a day dedicated to sports and musical entertainment in the parish field, and Saturday, August 9, featured a musical show in Piazza Cutugno.

The most anticipated moment arrived on Sunday, August 10, the patron saint's day: after the solemn Eucharistic celebration in the afternoon, the statue of Saint Nicholas went out in procession through the streets of the village, decorated with boats, nets, flowers, and shells, before being embarked on a felucca for the evocative crossing of the lake, followed by numerous boats amidst the lights reflected on the water and concluded with fireworks. During the same summer period, Ganzirri had hosted, on July 26 and 27, the historical re-enactment XIPHIAS dedicated to the swordfish hunt on the Great Lake.

Thursday, August 7: morning lauds and mass; evening vespers and mass; moment of evangelization and reflection on Saint Nicholas in Piazza Cutugno. Friday, August 8: day dedicated to sports with games and musical entertainment in the parish field. Saturday, August 9: morning lauds and mass; evening vespers and mass; musical show in Piazza Cutugno. Sunday, August 10 (patron saint's day): morning lauds and mass; in the afternoon, solemn Eucharistic celebration, procession of the statue through the streets of Ganzirri, and traditional crossing of the lake aboard the felucca; final fireworks.

Procession of the statue of Saint Nicholas through the village streets; crossing of the saint on the lake aboard the felucca towed by the luntro with four rowers; parade of illuminated boats with the brass band; fireworks over the lake.