Food festival · Polizzi Generosa
Sagra delle Nocciole in Polizzi Generosa
Polizzi Generosa's Sagra delle Nocciole is usually on the third Sunday of August: Sicilian carts, folk groups, free fresh hazelnuts and concerts in the square.
2026 edition
OverPiazza Trinità (concerts) and the old town streets of Polizzi Generosa (parade), Polizzi Generosa
Programme
69th edition. Concerts in Piazza Trinità from 20 to 22 August; on Sunday 23 the parade of Sicilian carts and folk groups and the hazelnut handout. That year it was exceptionally moved to the Sunday after the third of August.
This edition is over. We update the page as soon as the next dates are out.
Source: comune.polizzi.pa.it, checked on 19 October 2026
The Sagra delle Nocciole is the most awaited festival of the summer in Polizzi Generosa, devoted to the town’s hazelnut. It’s usually held on the third Sunday of August: painted Sicilian carts and folk groups, local and foreign, parade through the centre and fresh hazelnuts are handed out free; on the evenings before there are concerts in Piazza Trinità. In 2026 the 69th edition ran from 20 to 23 August, with the Sunday exceptionally moved by a week.
When is it held?
The rule is the third Sunday of August, with a few evenings of music beforehand. In 2026 the town made an exception: the main day “has always been held on the third Sunday of August”, writes Madoniedintorni, but that year it was moved to 23 August.
| Day (2026) | What |
|---|---|
| Thursday 20 August, 10 pm | “Maretta” concert by Francesco Anselmo with Carlo Valente and Wowdrugo, Piazza Trinità |
| Friday 21 August, 10 pm | Lidiya Koycheva & Balkan Orkestra, Piazza Trinità |
| Saturday 22 August, 10 pm | C-PUMP, Peppolone Live Experience, Piazza Trinità |
| Sunday 23 August | Sicilian cart parade, free hazelnuts, folk groups from 6 pm |
The Sunday of the carts
Sunday is the day of the village feast. Painted Sicilian carts parade along the town’s main street, followed by folk groups from Polizzi and other countries, and fresh Polizzi hazelnuts are handed out (Comune di Polizzi Generosa). Piazza Trinità stays open all day for eating, music and getting together.
According to Visit Polizzi Generosa, every year the town’s young people build huts of wood and stone recreating rural settings of the past: “a mannara”, the animal pen, “u pagghiaru”, the shepherds’ shelter, and “a taverna”. Inside there are old crafts and folk music with tambourines, penny whistles and Jew’s harps.
The Polizzi hazelnut
The hazelnut is Polizzi Generosa’s signature product and the key ingredient of the town’s sweets, such as nucatoli biscuits and Christmas cuccidati. At the festival stalls, Visit Polizzi Generosa also mentions fresh local cheeses, tuma and ricotta, Polizzi’s pepper “u pipiddu”, a Slow Food Presidium, and wood-fired focaccia. For Madonie produce there’s our guide to Madonie food.
Practical tips
- When to go. Sunday for the carts, folk groups and hazelnuts; the evenings before for the concerts in the square.
- Road. Polizzi Generosa sits at 917 metres. From Palermo it’s about 85 km and an hour and 20 minutes, via the Scillato exit on the A19 and then 18 km on the SS643 (see getting to the Madonie by car). Sources don’t list dedicated car parks.
- Sleeping and eating. See where to stay in Polizzi Generosa and where to eat in Polizzi Generosa.
- Weather. Check the Polizzi Generosa weather before you go.
In late July Polizzi hosts the Politium Circus, a contemporary circus festival. The rest of the town is on the Polizzi Generosa page and under events in Polizzi Generosa; other festivals are in the Madonie food festival calendar.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Sagra delle Nocciole in Polizzi Generosa?
- The Sagra delle Nocciole has always been held on the third Sunday of August, preceded by a few evenings of concerts. In 2026, the 69th edition, the main day was exceptionally moved to the following Sunday, 23 August, with concerts from 20 to 22 August in Piazza Trinità.
- Are the hazelnuts free?
- On the Sunday of the festival, during the Sicilian cart parade, fresh Polizzi hazelnuts are handed out free: that was in the 2026 programme published by the town of Polizzi Generosa. The evening concerts in Piazza Trinità are also held outdoors in the square.
- What happens on the Sunday of the festival?
- It's the day of the village feast: painted Sicilian carts parade through the streets, followed by local and international folk groups, and hazelnuts are handed out. In 2026 the folk group performances began at 6 pm, and Piazza Trinità stayed open all day for food and music.
- What is there to eat at the Sagra delle Nocciole?
- Besides hazelnuts, the Visit Polizzi Generosa website mentions stalls with fresh local cheeses such as tuma and ricotta, Polizzi's pepper "u pipiddu", a Slow Food Presidium, and wood-fired focaccia. Hazelnuts are also the key ingredient of the town's typical sweets, such as nucatoli and Christmas cuccidati.
- Who organises the Sagra delle Nocciole?
- It's organised by the town of Polizzi Generosa, which publishes the programme on its events page. According to Visit Polizzi Generosa, every year the town's young people build huts of wood and stone recreating rural settings of the past, such as the mannara, u pagghiaru and the taverna.
