In the Valley of the Temples, the almond blossom festival is in full swing, the historic Sicilian spring festival. Dances, songs, poetry, popular traditions and good food, this is the perfect mix of the kermesse now in its 75th edition. It is joined by the international folklore festival (65th edition) with dance groups who come from all over the world to send a message of peace and brotherhood.
The almond tree in bloom
Every year before the Temple of Concord the tripod of friendship is lit by the representatives of international folk groups who then give life to the torchlight procession, parading along the streets of Agrigento. In addition to the fair and the folklore festival, the 20th children's festival in the world is also being celebrated in the Valley of the Temples these days. This year's events are the first post-Covid demonstrations and are characterized by parades in the city center and a whole series of shows scheduled at the convention center and at the Pirandello Theater. The folk groups come from Albania, Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, India, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan. Korea, Malaysia, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand and Uzbekistan. While for the world children's festival the participating groups come from Bulgaria, India, Korea, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
The latest events scheduled
Friday 10 March in the Prefecture, mayor and prefect of Agrigento will receive international delegations. From 10.30 to 23, in the historic center, it will be open to the public of the "Almond blossom food village”. At 10.30 there will be a parade of international groups through the streets and squares of the city and at 11 the show in Piazza Cavour. The 17 is scheduled for “Torchlight Procession of Friendship”; in the evening at the theater Pirandello international groups will perform while at 22pm, in via Atenea there will be itinerant ethno-musical shows.
Saturday March 11 in the Valley of the Temples the "Children of the world" will be staged with the “Walk of peace and fraternity”. At 10, in the "Rosario Livatino" auditorium of the University Consortium, the conference on "The Mediterranean diet, a UNESCO heritage site”. Also in the morning there will be a parade of international groups through the streets and squares of the city with a show at 11 in Piazza Cavour. At 15.30pm and 20.30pm, at the Palacongressi, indoor performances by folk groups. In the afternoon, the groups of the "Children of the World" festival will be hosted by the parish of Our Lady of Providence. Also on the bill is the band concert in Piazza Cavour; musical entertainment will follow in via Atenea. The evening will end with a concert of ethnic music.
The grand finale
Sunday March 12 it will be the final day with the traditional parade of international groups and the "Children of the World" from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele to Viale della Vittoria. There will also be musical bands, Sicilian carts, historical parades and regional folk groups. The "Mandorlo in fiore village" will remain open until 23pm. The final show is set for 15pm, at the foot of the Concordia temple with the announcement of the winning group and the award ceremony. At the Pirandello theater the gala evening will conclude the 75th edition of the almond blossom festival with the delivery to the winning group of the "Golden Temple".
(Photo Facebook Almond Blossom Festival)
