The Madonie in November: things to do, food festivals, events

In November the Madonie are the place for autumn food festivals and seasonal cooking. In 2026 the month opens with the Sagra dell’Ulivo in Finale di Pollina, from 6 to 8 November, and Sapori d’Autunno in Isnello, on 7 and 8. It is mushroom season in the woods, the museums stay open and the villages are quiet.

Days are short and it can be cold up high. Plan half-day walks and keep the village visits for the afternoon.

What is there to do in the Madonie in November?

Food festivals on the first weekend

The first weekend of November 2026 has two.

• Sagra dell’Ulivo, in Finale di Pollina, on the coast: the 50th edition, from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November. It is the new olive oil festival of the seaward side.
• Sapori d’Autunno, in Isnello: Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, with seasonal produce in the village lanes.

On Saturday 7 November the GAL Hassin astronomy park in Isnello opens for Sapori d’Autunno, with activities from 3.30pm to 6pm. Book online on the centre’s website.

Two more festivals took place in November 2025: the Collesano Cheese Festival, on 15 and 16 November, and the Festa del Corbezzolo (strawberry tree festival) in Sant’Ambrogio, a hamlet of Cefalù. On 20 October 2026 the new dates were not out yet: we will add them to the calendar as soon as the town or the Pro Loco announces them.

Mushrooms, new olive oil and badda beans

November is full autumn on the table too.

• Mushrooms: you pick them with the regional permit and the park authority’s rules, every day from 6am until one hour before sunset, up to 2.5 kg per person if you do not live in a park town. Species, limits and where to taste them are in our guide to mushrooms in the Madonie.
• New olive oil: for the Nebba olive of Scillato the Sicilian Region’s sheet gives hand picking between November and December. PDO, PGI and mills are in the guide to olive oil and wine in the Madonie.
• Badda beans: the Slow Food Presidium of Polizzi Generosa. In November you find the dried beans of the harvest just finished; history and recipes in the guide to beans and ancient grains.

The last colours in the beech woods

October is foliage month in the beech woods above Piano Battaglia. If autumn has been mild, in early November you still find yellow and copper leaves; after the first windy, cold days they fall. No authority publishes an official calendar. Before you drive up, check the plateau webcam on the park authority’s website and read our article on autumn foliage in the Madonie, with six places and the roads to get there.

Museums and castles when it rains

When it rains the villages are best indoors. The Museo Civico in Castelbuono, inside the Ventimiglia castle, is open every day from November to March, 9.30am to 4.45pm without a break. The other village museums and castles are in our guides to museums in the Madonie and castles. Many small museums open only by appointment: phone first.

The sky from Isnello

On Saturday 21 November 2026 GAL Hassin repeats its Alla Luna event: a visit from 3.30pm and, if the sky is clear, Moon observation from the terrace telescopes from about 5.30pm. From October to June the centre is closed on Sundays.

Where to stay in November?

It is low season: you will find a room almost anywhere, even on the festival weekend. For the first weekend’s festivals the handiest bases are Castelbuono and Cefalù, on the northern side, the same as Finale di Pollina and Isnello. All places to stay, by type and village, are in where to stay in the Madonie.

Roads and weather in November

November is when the winter rules begin. In winter 2025/2026 ANAS required snow chains on board or winter tyres on the A19 between Scillato and Mulinello from 15 November; on the main Madonie roads the rule started on 1 December. On 20 October 2026 the orders for the new winter were not out yet. We update them on our page about roads in the Madonie, with alerts on closures and landslides.

Between the coast and Piano Battaglia there are more than 1,500 metres of height difference, and the weather changes with altitude. Check the forecast for the place you are going to in the Madonie weather, and before driving up to the plateaus read the guide to winter roads to Piano Battaglia.