The town of Bagheria is preparing to celebrate another edition of the festivities in honour of its patron saint, St Joseph. The traditional festival, which takes place in March from a religious point of view and in summer from a secular point of view, has been postponed to the end of September this year. Although the Feast of St Joseph falls on 19 March, historically and traditionally, the celebrations have always been organised in the summer to allow the many emigrants from Bagheria to return to their hometown and relive the local tradition together with their distant relatives and all those who want to enjoy the beauty and tradition of Sicily and Bagheria. On the occasion of the bicentenary of the founding of Bagheria, it was decided to combine the celebrations for the patron saint with the official celebrations, with events taking place in the last week of September. This is a moment of great historical and cultural value for our community: an opportunity to rediscover the roots of Bagheria, its artistic and architectural heritage, and its strong link with its religious and popular traditions. Celebrating the patron saint and the city’s 200th anniversary together means paying tribute to our collective memory, strengthening our sense of belonging and looking proudly to the future, in the name of culture, faith and civic participation.
The programme called ‘San Giuseppe 2025’ was created to celebrate Bagheria in its entirety and splendour. The classic Sicilian Alborata announces the opening of the festivities. The tamburinari of Bagheria will enliven the streets of the city with their performances typical of traditional Sicilian events. The streets of the city will be illuminated by Sicilian lights. Originally, these lights were linked to religious celebrations, but today they are also seen in less spiritual contexts. They have become a true art form, which has never lost sight of its deep soul. In the context of this event, they aim to unite the religious tradition with the artistic and traditional heritage of Sicily and Bagheria.

“SAN GIUSEPPE 2025” PROGRAMME:

FRIDAY 26 SEPTEMBER
– Opening of the “San Giuseppe 2025” agri-food expo – Corso Umberto I – from 26 to 29 September, from 6pm to 11pm
– Inauguration of an exhibition of carts and paintings depicting St. Joseph by artists from Bagheria
– First music competition for liturgy in memory of Monsignor Giovanni Muratore at the Mother Church at 7:00 p.m.
– “City of Bagheria” Award – Piazza Madrice – Singing competition curated by Pippo Balistreri at 9:00 p.m. (selection evening open to the public) guest Gianni Marino Masterchef Italia 14

SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
– Sporting event proposed by the Rotary Club Bagheria (Via Libertà, Corso Butera, Corso Umberto) at 10:00 a.m.
– “San Giuseppe Lavoratore” Award Villa Cattolica at 5 p.m. On the occasion of Bagheria Estate 2025, the San Giuseppe Lavoratore Award will be presented in memory and celebration of the patron saint of Bagheria. The San Giuseppe Lavoratore Award 2025 – Bagherìa is an important opportunity for the cultural and scientific revival of Sicily and our country, to recognise all those in Sicily, and specifically in Bagheria, who have distinguished themselves for their commitment, dedication, passion and promotion of issues concerning all sciences, ranging from mathematics and science to art, culture and crafts.
– “Premio Città di Bagheria” (City of Bagheria Award) Piazza Madrice (final evening) – Singing competition curated by Pippo Balistreri at 9 p.m.

SUNDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2025
– Bagheria Cycling Trophy “San Giuseppe” – Monte Catalfano 10:00 a.m. A gathering of young cyclists from Bagheria and Sicily. The principle of respect for nature and the territory will be promoted through the use of bicycles, which in this context become a tool for uniting people in respect for our Sicilian landscapes.
– “Gabriele Gagliano” Tour of the Tamburinai di Baaria through the historic centre
– “Historic Shops Awards” Villa Butera – Sala Fumagalli – Martorana 11:00 a.m. The Municipality of Bagheria has established the “Historic Shops of Bagheria” award, which will be given each year to businesses in the area that have been operating for over fifty years (even if not continuously). Commercial activities, restaurants and bars that are now part of the history and identity of the city and which, according to the municipal administration, should be protected, are taken into consideration. Before the award ceremony, there will be a conference entitled “Bagheria and its history: crafts, catering and commercial activities”.
– Solemn Mass attended by civil and military authorities – Mother Church at 6 p.m.
– Solemn Procession of the Patron Saint at 7 p.m.
– Bagheria Concert at 9:00 p.m. Musical concert in Piazza Matrice Performance ‘SIRAH’. Sirah is an ethno-folk band from Madonie with a rock soul and innovative rhythms with Mediterranean and Irish sounds, strongly linked to folk traditions. They express a marked creative flair by exploiting the inexhaustible cultural heritage of the Mediterranean area. The band highlights this connection in their sounds with the Zufolo, the Ciaramella, the Accordion, etc., but reaches its maximum expressive level through a skilful synthesis of musical styles such as reggae, rock, funk, etc., which are mixed with tarantella and pizzica. Their repertoire includes original songs and is enriched with music by the most representative authors of southern Italian folk music (Cavallaro, Eugenio Bennato, Etnosaund, M. Incudine, Kachupa) in an engaging musical journey through tarante, pizziche and folk songs. In 2023, SIRAH performed in 60 concerts throughout Sicily, and last November the band was a guest in Piedmont in the town of Trinità (Cuneo).
– Theatre performance “Il cunto” by Salvo Piparo – 10:30 p.m. – Piazza Madrice. Guardian of the most ancient memories of popular tradition, Salvo Piparo has been recounting Sicily and its wonderful stories of life and legends for more than 15 years, through the ancient technique of CUNTO. An official spokesperson for UNICEF, FAI and AIL, he has also been involved in the fight against racketeering for years through his theatrical activities and numerous productions linked to socially committed theatre. He has staged several plays by the playwright and journalist Salvo Licata and has written and performed in over 30 theatrical productions. Artistic director of the Aedi Storytelling Festival, now in its sixth edition in 2024, he is also the most famous living mask of Palermo for his staging of the city’s history: from the Genius of Palermo to the 18th-century counts devoted to the patron saint Rusulia. Awarded the title of Ambassador of Sicily, he has lent his verses and his interpretation to the new advertising campaign promoting the region, produced by the Sicilian Regional Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment. Passionate, devoted and an extraordinary interpreter of the voice of the people, with his enthusiasm and strength he is the authentic expression of the deepest wisdom of the great Sicilian street thinkers, undisputed masters of the art of knowing how to live, through the lens of irony and audacious survival, between comedy and raw realism.

MONDAY 29 SEPTEMBER (schools closed)
Monday will be dedicated exclusively to the traditions, colours and sounds of our land:
– Parade of the Tamburinai di Baaria “Gabriele Gagliano” – Corso Umberto and streets of the historic centre at 11:00 a.m.
– Parade of Sicilian carts at 4:30 p.m. The Sicilian cart is a symbol of Sicilian identity, and Bagheria showcases the art and tradition typical of its land and local master cartwrights, displaying the beauty of the carts and festively decorated horses accompanied by the tamburinai of Bagheria. The parade will gather at the market area and proceed along Via Federico II, Corso Butera and Corso Umberto, ending in Piazza Garibaldi.
– Bagheria Concert at 10:30 p.m. – Concert in Piazza Madrice Michele Zarrillo. Singer, guitarist, pianist and musician, he is considered one of Italy’s most romantic and refined singer-songwriters. His songs have become part of the classic repertoire of Italian pop music. He has sold more than 4 million records during his career. His career includes more than 15 appearances at Sanremo, numerous albums and highly successful compilations.
– Sicilian lights and colours for the fireworks display at 12:30 a.m.