Festivals
Village festival in Bitti
In Sardinia, countless festivals are celebrated throughout the year, most of which are dedicated to the patron saint of the respective place. These events are not tourist spectacles, but a deeply rooted tradition.
In total, over 1,500(!) festivals take place on the island every year.
If you have the opportunity to visit one of the larger events with traditional costume parades and dance performances, you should definitely not miss it.
Traditions and dances are intensively cultivated by young and old. So you can experience a lot of the original Sardinia at these festivals.
You can also discover and try a lot of culinary delights – many of the typical Sardinian specialities are on offer.
It is impossible to list all these festivals. It’s best to ask the landlord of your accommodation on site if something interesting is taking place nearby.
Here is a brief overview of the most important events:
January
On the evening of 16 January, bonfires are lit in many places for the feast of St Anthony, marking the start of the carnival season.
Performance of the „Boes e Merdules“
February
This month is mainly devoted to carnival events. The most important of these is the “Sa Sartiglia” equestrian festival in Oristano on carnival Sunday and Tuesday.
There are other equestrian festivals in Abbasanta, Paulilatino and Santu Lussurgiu.
In Mamoiada, Orotelli and Ottana you can watch an ancient Sardinian carnival custom. Men dressed up in wooden masks, skins and sheep bells (mamuthones) are led through the streets by the issohadores.
In Bosa and Tempio Pausania there are very cheerful carnival parades and dances.
March/April
During this period, almost all festivities are related to Easter.
In Alghero (Good Friday) and Castelsardo (Easter Monday) there are magnificent torchlight processions. There are also atmospheric processions in Cagliari, Oristano, Iglesias and Sassari.
In Tonara, the Sagra del Torrone takes place on Easter weekend – now one of the biggest festivals in Sardinia.
May
Sagra di Sant’Efisio
Now, among other things, numerous spring festivals take place all over the island.
From 1-4 May, a pilgrimage to Pula is held in Cagliari in honour of the city’s patron saint, Efisio. This festival begins with a huge, colourful parade of traditional costumes through the capital. Groups in traditional costumes from all over the island come to sing and play music in the streets. The festival is one of the biggest in Sardinia and is also broadcast on television.
In Lula, pilgrims make a pilgrimage from 1-10 May to the church of San Francesco, where they stay in pilgrims’ huts during the festival. Festive banquets, poetry competitions and equestrian games alternate.
The “Calvacata Sarda” in Sassari (penultimate Sunday of May) is also a costume and folk music festival, with equestrian and dance performances.
In Orosei, the “Madonna e mare” festival is celebrated on the last Sunday in May.
June
Of particular interest in this month are the feasts of St John (San Giovanni), which are celebrated in most towns.
In Fonni, on the first Sunday, there is an equestrian procession in honour of the Madonna dei Martiri.
July
In Sedilo, on the 6th and 7th of July, there is the “S’ Ardia” – the largest equestrian festival in Sardinia, during which the church of San Constantino is go around. Thereby two parties try to steal a flag from each other.
At festivals, there are many specialties – here, “Sa Carapigna di Aritzo.”
August
Many towns celebrate the feast of Maria della neve on 5 August and the feast of the Virgin Mary on 15 August. Both festivals can last several days.
At Sassari’s biggest festival, the “Festa dei candelieri” on 14 August, huge candles are carried through the town.
One of the most important folklore events is the “Festa del redentore” in Nuoro on the last weekend in August.
Traditions and dances are also cultivated by the youth
September
In Cabras (near Oristano), the first Sunday is celebrated in honour of San Salvatore.
Many towns have harvest festivals taking several days.
In Orosei, the “Nostra Signora del Rimedio” festival lasts from 8-26 September.
October
On 7 October there is a celebration in Nuoro in honour of the Madonna del Rosario.
The most interesting festival in October is the “Sagra delle Castagne e delle Nocciole” in Aritzo, when the chestnut harvest begins on the last weekend in October.
November and December
November is the month of the dead and there are no popular festivals in Sardinia.
On 13 December, the whole of Sardinia celebrates the feast of Santa Lucia.