Martin Fest wine festival in San Fratello
Saint Martin's festival in the Nebrodi Mountains: two days of new wine, local produce, street food, music and street performers in the village center
By Salvatore Giuliano Published Updated
The story
Martin Fest, billed as a festival "promoting wine and local produce", returns to San Fratello on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026 for its eighth edition. For two days this village in the Nebrodi Mountains, 675 metres up in the province of Messina, turns Piazza Ricca Salerno, Via Saverio Latteri and Via Roma into a trail of stalls serving new wine, local produce and street food, with tastings, concerts, street performers and children's activities. The poster carries the coats of arms and logos of the San Fratello town council, the Pro Loco tourist association, Italy's Ministry of Agriculture, the Sicilian Region and the Vulòs cultural association.
The festival grew out of 11 November, the feast of Saint Martin of Tours, when, by a custom found all over Italy, the barrels are opened to taste the new wine. In San Fratello the occasion has become a showcase for short supply chains in the Nebrodi: it is organized by the Pro Loco San Fratello, which in 2025 worked with the town council, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Tourism and the regional agriculture department, with support from the Vulòs association and the town's youth council.
Recent editions have set the format. In 2024, on 16 and 17 November, the program included a visit to the Norman sanctuary of the Tre Santi on Monte Vecchio, an exhibition in the former town hall and a cooking show featuring Nebrodi black pork. In 2025, the seventh edition, on 8 and 9 November, the heart of the festival was Piazza Ricca Salerno, with two stages on Via Roma and Via Saverio Latteri. For wine lovers, the 2026 program also includes a guided tasting masterclass devoted to the wines of the province of Messina.
Schedule
- Piazza Ricca Salerno: the food stalls and the children's play area open
- Via Saverio Latteri and Via Roma: parade of the "Le Kalactine" majorettes with the San Benedetto il Moro town band of San Fratello
- Via Saverio Latteri and Via Roma: the strolling group "Voci di Sicilia", street performers from the "GattoMatto" company and a live forging of the San Fratello knife with Coltelli Versaci
- Concert by Teresa Pitzalis & Black Soul Band
- Guided tours of the town center, starting from Piazza Ricca Salerno
- Cooking show and tasting, while the "Amastra" folk group performs along Via Saverio Latteri and Via Roma
- Former town hall on Piazza Ricca Salerno: masterclass with a guided technical tasting of wines from the province of Messina (limited places)
- Via Saverio Latteri and Via Roma: the Blue Stars Street Band marches through town
- Closing music show with "Vinile 33"
What to eat
The star is vino novello, the new wine of the season, paired with Nebrodi produce: recent editions offered caciocavallo and maiorchino cheeses and cured meats from the Nebrodi black pig, along with roast chestnuts, artisan cheeses and traditional sweets.
Alongside the stalls there is street food mixing traditional recipes and new ideas. On Sunday 8 November children can make fresh pasta at the "Piccoli Chef dei Nebrodi" workshop in Piazza Ricca Salerno; places are limited.
Local tips
-
Parking
The organizers haven't announced any parking areas, and the central streets are taken up by stalls and shows: leave the car outside the center and walk in.
-
Payments
Stalls at village festivals are often run by producers and volunteers, so bring cash, as they may not take cards.
-
Crowds and timing
The evenings are the busiest time. Places are limited for the wine masterclass and the children's workshop, so check with the Pro Loco beforehand. On both evenings, from 8 pm to midnight, the youth council runs a games area in Piazza Ricca Salerno.
-
What to wear
San Fratello sits 675 metres up and November evenings are cold: dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes for the sloping streets.
Weather forecast
Data: Open-Meteo
Getting there
Leave the A20 Messina–Palermo motorway at Sant'Agata di Militello and drive about 14 km uphill on the SS289. Catania Airport is about 100 km away and Palermo Airport about 166 km; the nearest station is Acquedolci-San Fratello, on the coast.
Things to do this weekend in Sicily →
Frequently asked questions
When is Martin Fest 2026 in San Fratello?
On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026: on Saturday the stalls open at 6 pm, and on Sunday the day starts at 10 am with guided tours of the town center.
Where does it take place?
In the center of San Fratello: Piazza Ricca Salerno, with the stalls and the children's area, and Via Saverio Latteri and Via Roma, where strolling bands, street performers and shows pass through.
What is there to eat and drink?
New wine and Nebrodi produce: recent editions had caciocavallo, maiorchino, black pork cured meats, roast chestnuts and traditional sweets, plus street food.
Is there an entrance fee?
The poster doesn't mention tickets for the festival, which is held in the village's streets and squares: you pay for what you buy at the stalls.
Explore the area
San Martino nel Borgo wine festival in San Marco d'Alunzio
San Marco d'Alunzio
Black Pig and Porcini Mushroom Festival in Cesarò
Cesarò
Schiticchio d'Autunno new wine and food festival in San Piero Patti
San Piero Patti
Chestnut Festival in Montagnareale
Montagnareale
Olive Festival in Pollina
Pollina
Cassatella Festival in Agira
Agira
