Saponara Carnival — Parade of the Bear and the Princely Court

The 2025 edition of the Parade of the Bear and the Princely Court took place on Shrove Tuesday and represented a historic milestone for the Saponara event, with a record of approximately 8,000 visitors.

The re-enactment once again staged the symbolic victory of good, embodied by Prince Domenico Alliata, over the chained Bear led by its tamers. The village streets were enlivened by brass bands and folk groups from all over Italy, featuring 18th-century costumes, traditional dances, and artisanal instruments like the brogna. That edition also gave ample space to the educational project "The Saponara Carnival enters the classroom," involving schools and students from the Messina area.