Took place · next edition to be confirmed Festival
Last edition: 6 December 2025 – 6 January 2026
2026 edition: date to be confirmed
From early December to Epiphany, Cefalù fills with nativity scenes, concerts and theatre. The Via dei Presepi along via Decano Martino and the Ninnaredda — carols played through the streets — are the highlights.
A month of events spread between the old town, the Cicero municipal theatre, Piazza Duomo and the hamlet of Sant'Ambrogio. Nativity scenes are the connecting thread: the Via dei Presepi along via Decano Martino and the diocesan exhibition stay open until 6 January.
One musical tradition survives here too: the Ninnaredda, Christmas novena songs carried through the streets on festive evenings from 16 to 24 December. The 2025-2026 edition opened on 6 December.
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📅 Every year between Fat Thursday and Shrove Tuesday
In the run-up to Lent, Cefalù fills with masks, confetti and events for children. The town hall builds the programme from proposals by local associations and parishes; the 2026 edition ran 12-17 February.
📅 Every year, 2–6 August
Cefalù's biggest week runs 2-6 August, honouring the Holy Saviour of the Norman cathedral with services, concerts and folk parades — and a greasy-pole contest over the sea to finish.
📅 Every year on the afternoon of 6 August
A long pole slicked with grease and soap juts out over the old harbour; whoever walks it and grabs the flag at the tip wins. Cefalù's greasy-pole contest closes the Feast of the Saviour every 6 August.
📅 Every year in mid-August
Folk music and dance groups from several continents perform in Cefalù's old town each summer. The 2026 edition, on 18 August, brings ensembles from Colombia, Ecuador, New Zealand, Slovakia and Hungary.
Places to see before or after the feast. All 17 places in Cefalù →
Norman cathedral founded in 1131 by Roger II, famous for its Byzantine mosaic of Christ Pantocrator.
Baroque church in Cefalù featuring a twin staircase and a 1668 facade along Corso Ruggero.
Famous for 12th-century Byzantine mosaics, La Martorana in Palermo is a UNESCO site of the Arbëreshë community.
Historic Cefalù church created in 1961 by joining two adjacent 16th-century religious buildings.
Castello di Cefalù · chiesa del Purgatorio · chiesa del Santissimo Salvatore alla Torre and 14 more
Sfincione · Arancina · Pasta alla Norma
24 places to stay · top rated: Taliammari 9.3 · Villa Totò Resort 9.2
Festivals, food fairs and events throughout the year.
Nearest airport: Palermo Falcone-Borsellino, 83 km away
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
