February is Mardi Gras time in Sicily

I was delightfully surprised when I discovered that Sicily celebrates Mardi Gras. It’s called “Carnevale” here and it’s similar to Mardi Gras in the United States, except it’s more family-oriented. These festivals include parades of incredible floats, often poking fun at politicians. There’s lots of clever costumes, with entire families attending in silly wigs and outfits. My favorite so far was three young men dressed as The Peaky Blinders. Naturally, there’s also music, food, dancing, vendors and it’s loads of fun. The vibe is lively, the streets are packed with happy people singing and doing conga line dancing.

The biggest and most famous Carnevale in Sicily takes place in a city called Acireale, which is just a 35-minute drive from our farm. But many of the smaller nearby villages also have Mardi Gras festivals. The celebration typically last a week or two, so there are plenty of opportunities to see more than one. And it costs nothing to attend!

Check out this video of the Acireale Carnevale on my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@AmericansRetiredinSicily.