The Annual Sicilian Carriage Festival, Sicily
Sicilian Carriage Festival
The Sicilian Carriage Festival, which is held in Taormina every year, is closely associated with music, colour, art, religion and horses. The event, which is jointly organised by the Association of Sicilian Carts Trecastagni and the Tourism of the Municipality of Taormina, features a procession of brilliantly painted Sicilian carts.
The parade of carts commences at 6 pm and is held on Fridays in the months of September and October and on the 5th, 12th, 18th and 25th of June. The purpose of the event is religious and cultural, seeking to develop awareness regarding the Sicilian culture, way of life and folklore among the large crowds of local 
visitors and tourists who come to view the event. The economy of the area also experiences a significant boost during these days.
The Sicilian Carriage Festival is quite impressive with brightly coloured carts, decorated horses and theatrically dressed drivers and musicians singing Sicilian ancient folk songs to the accompaniment of tambourines, accordions and flutes. It has been said that the parade bears a striking resemblance to the Venetian Carnival.
The religious significance of the Sicilian Carriage Festival is that it is held as part of a religious festival in Trecastagni, celebrated in honor of three brothers who died the death of martyrs. The carts therefore are decorated with colourful paintings, motifs and murals illustrating religious values as well as tales of crusaders.
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