Watermelon Festival

The Rilievo Watermelon Festival

The Watermelon Festival is one of the most anticipated summer events in Misiliscemi, a young municipality in the Trapani province of Sicily. The festival takes place in the Rilievo district, one of the eight hamlets that make up the municipality, with its beating heart in Piazza Gramsci, which is transformed into a vibrant festival village for the occasion.

A growing tradition

Created to celebrate the watermelon—the quintessential symbol of the Sicilian summer—the festival is organized by the Nuovi Orizzonti Association with the patronage of the Municipality of Misiliscemi. Over the years, the event has grown into a major attraction for the entire Trapani region, progressing from its ninth edition in 2022 to the tenth (July 2023), eleventh (July 2024), and twelfth (July 2025), drawing increasingly larger crowds.

Music, entertainment, and gastronomy

The program blends concerts by national artists, comedy, tribute bands, and popular entertainment. Past editions have featured stars such as I Cugini di Campagna, Anna Tatangelo, and comedian Sasà Salvaggio, alongside tribute bands dedicated to Italian music legends, dance performances, and group dance evenings. Highlights include:

• free tastings of fresh watermelon, the true heart of the festival;
• food stalls featuring local products;
• comedy shows and cover bands;
• group dancing, ballroom dancing, and entertainment for all ages;
• fringe events such as cycling races and vintage car and motorcycle rallies.

An event that tells the story of the territory

The Watermelon Festival is part of Misiliscemi's rich summer calendar and offers a chance to discover the identity of the local districts through agriculture, conviviality, and tradition. For visitors, it is also an opportunity to experience the most authentic side of Sicily—that of the small agricultural centers in the Trapani hinterland, just a few kilometers from the sea and the city of Trapani.