On August 31, 2026, a press conference was held at the rectory of the Maria Santissima Addolorata parish in Aspra to present the festivities in honor of Maria SS. Addolorata, the Patroness of Aspra. The events are scheduled to take place from September 6 to September 15, 2026 (with concluding prayer events continuing until September 20).
The meeting, which was live-streamed, was attended by:

Filippo Maria Tripoli (Mayor of Bagheria)
Father Gaetano Pravatà (Parish Priest of Aspra)
Andrea Sciortino (President of the City Council, with a specific brief for the hamlet of Aspra)
Antonella Insinga (Councillor for Entertainment/Events)
Maria Concetta Billanti (Superior of the Confraternity of Maria SS. Addolorata)
Gerardo Lorenzini (President of the Aspra Merchants’ Association)
Maurizio Panzica (Chef)

During the presentation, Mayor Filippo Maria Tripoli emphasized the patronal festival’s role in fostering community cohesion, highlighting the collaboration between the parish, the confraternity, local merchants, and municipal offices. Father Gaetano Pravatà and Superior Maria Concetta Billanti invited the faithful and visitors to experience these days of faith, outlining the liturgical schedule and the tradition of the Novenas. Councillor Insinga, President Sciortino, and merchants’ representative Lorenzini spoke of the enthusiasm, teamwork, and active involvement of local businesses.
The festivities will officially begin on Sunday, September 6, with the Novena and the lighting of the festive illuminations in Piazza Monsignor Cipolla at 9:00 PM.
– The full program is available on the website: www.comune.bagheria.pa.it
– The live stream can be viewed on Facebook: Diretta Comune di Bagheria

CELEBRATION PROGRAM

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
START OF THE NOVENA IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS (Maria SS. Addolorata)

5:00 PM – Procession through the town streets by the “Cugini La Licata” drummers
5:45 PM – Holy Rosary and hymns to the Virgin Mary
6:30 PM – Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr. Salvatore M. De Pasquale
9:00 PM – LIGHTING OF THE FESTIVAL ILLUMINATIONS (Piazza Mons. Cipolla)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

5:15 PM – Holy Rosary and hymns to the Virgin Mary
6:00 PM – Eucharistic celebration presided over by the parish priest

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

5:15 PM – Holy Rosary and hymns to the Virgin Mary
5:30 PM – Summer games organized by the Passio Christi APS Association in collaboration with the Gio. Co. Giovani Cortili APS Association
6:00 PM – Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr. Gabriele Tornambè
9:00 PM – “Mary in the History of Salvation”: Celebration of the Akathist Hymn

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to Our Lady
6:00 PM Eucharistic celebration led by Fr. Valerio De Gaetani

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
SOLIDARITY DAY IN SUPPORT OF THE PARISH CARITAS

5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to Our Lady
6:00 PM Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr. Vincenzo Battaglia
9:30 PM Community Eucharistic Adoration

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

7:30 AM Morning reveille (drum salute)
9:30 AM “Cugini La Licata” drummers parade through the town streets
4:00 PM Boat race – Scaro di Levante. Entertainment by the “Cugini La Licata” drummers. Followed by: “Antinna a mare” (greasy pole contest over the water)
5:30 PM “Cugini La Licata” drummers tour the streets of Aspra
5:30 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to Our Lady
6:00 PM Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr. Alerio Montalbano, with the participation of the Confraternity of Saint Joseph of Bagheria. Blessing of couples celebrating their 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries
9:30 PM CABARET SHOW WITH “I RESPINTI” Followed by: MUSICAL PERFORMANCE BY “GLI ANGELI 2.0 VASCO ROSSI TRIBUTE BAND” – (Seafront – Piano Stenditore)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

07:30 AM Dawn salute (Alborata)
09:30 AM Parade through the town streets by the “Cugini La Licata” drummers
10:30 AM – 4:00 PM Sports and recreational activities: “Aspra Vela Day” (Aspra Sailing Day) organized by the Italian Naval League (Lega Navale Italiana)
4:00 PM Boat race at Via Tempra – Levante slipway. Entertainment by the “Cugini La Licata” drummers. Followed by: “Antinna a mare” (greasy pole contest over the water)
5:00 PM Performance by the GoldenNotes StreetBand throughout the village streets
5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymns to the Madonna
6:00 PM Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Father Giuseppe Randazzo
9:30 PM MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: RADIO TIME 90s (Seafront – Piano Stenditore)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

07:30 AM Dawn salute (Alborata)
8:00 AM Festive bell ringing
9:00 AM Parade through the town streets by the “Cugini La Licata” drummers
10:00 AM Eucharistic Celebration
3:00 PM Procession at sea with the statue of Mary Most Holy of Sorrows (Maria SS. Addolorata). Upon return, the procession follows this route: Seafront, Via G. D’Annunzio, Via F. Aiello, Piazza Mons. Cipolla
7:00 PM Solemn Eucharistic Celebration (Piazza Mons. Cipolla)
10:00 PM MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: SANREMO È SEMPRE SANREMO (Sanremo is Always Sanremo)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

07:30 AM – Dawn reveille
08:00 AM – Festive bell ringing
03:30 PM – Water games (boat race, tug-of-war, etc.), tasting of local products, and entertainment at Lido Lapa Beach
05:00 PM – “Cugini La Licata” drummers parade through the town streets
05:15 PM – Holy Rosary and hymns to the Madonna
06:00 PM – Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Fr. Giovanni Maggiore. Followed by: Solemn First Vespers in honor of Mary Most Holy of Sorrows (Maria SS. Addolorata)
07:00 PM – Start of the creation of the 12th Aspra Flower Carpet (Infiorata) (Piazza Mons. Cipolla)
09:00 PM – Prayer gathering at Villa Sant’Isidoro, organized by the Confraternity of Mary Most Holy of Sorrows
09:30 PM – Cabaret show “Lupetto Show” – Comedians in the Palace. Followed by: Musical performance: “Orchestra Spettacolo XXL” (Seafront – Piano Stenditore)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 – SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOST HOLY OF SORROWS

07:30 AM – Dawn reveille
08:00 AM – Festive bell ringing
09:00 AM – “Cugini La Licata” drummers parade through the town streets
09:30 AM – “P. Mascagni” Aspra marching band parade through the town streets
09:30 AM – Eucharistic Celebration
11:30 AM – Solemn Eucharistic Celebration attended by civil and military authorities, presided over by the parish priest. At the conclusion of the service: Act of entrustment of the community to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Sorrows and floral tribute by the Confraternity members
12:30 PM: Firing of the *masculiata* (traditional firework display) in Piazza Mons. Cipolla
5:00 PM: Holy Rosary and hymns to Our Lady
5:30 PM: Eucharistic Celebration
7:30 PM: Solemn procession of the statue of Mary Most Holy of Sorrows through the streets of the district (Piazza Mons. Cipolla, Via Zara, Via F. Tempra, Corso Italia, turning near the Arena cinema onto Via Scordato, Via F. Tempra, Via D’Annunzio, Piazza Verdone, Via Creta, Viale dei Cipressi, Via Amalfi, Via M. Polo, Via A. Scordato, Via Luigi Rizzo, Via Trieste, Via Fiumi d’Italia, returning to the church via Via Zara and Piazza Mons. Cipolla). The procession will conclude around 11:00 PM
12:00 AM (Midnight): Pyromusical display by the Pirolandia company (Giuseppe La Rosa)
(From September 16 to 20, the statue of Our Lady will be placed in the church for veneration by the faithful. It will be returned to its niche on Sunday, September 20, following the Eucharistic Celebration)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to Our Lady
6:00 PM Eucharistic Celebration

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to Our Lady
6:00 PM Eucharistic Celebration

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to Our Lady
6:00 PM Eucharistic Celebration
9:30 PM Eucharistic Adoration

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to Our Lady
6:00 PM Eucharistic Celebration

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to Our Lady
6:00 PM Solemn Eucharistic Celebration and membership enrollment for Confraternity members. Afterward: return of the statue of Mary Most Holy of Sorrows to its niche and act of consecration of the Confraternity members to the Sorrowful Heart of Mary.