Walnut Festival in Motta Camastra

Known by the Sicilians with the name of O' chianu 'a Cruci, the Walnut Festival in Motta Camastra is an unmissable event for all gourmands who cannot resist the temptation to eat one after the other. The event takes place annually, is organized during the walnut harvest period and is becoming an attraction not only for residents but also for visitors who come from other regions of Italy. Here, then, is all the information on the Walnut Festival in Motta Camastra and how to take part in it.

Description of the Walnut Festival in Motta Camastra

Motta Camastra, this locality in the province of Messina, is one of the areas with the greatest production of walnuts in all of Sicily, so it is quite natural that the event that is dedicated to this fruit and all its forms was held in this village every year. variety.
The appointment, initially born as an opportunity to allow producers to sell their products directly, then turned into a folkloristic event which provides not only the possibility of tasting the walnuts used as raw materials of many different specialties, but also attend shows of all kinds, wander among the craft stalls and much more, all under the patronage of the Municipality of Motta Camastra.
From edition to edition, then, the event is enriched with new aspects and in recent years has begun to give space to other typical products of the area.

The story related to the event

The Walnut Festival in Motta Camastra reaches its 2003th edition this year and never ceases to amaze visitors with so many new features, year after year. The first edition of the event, in XNUMX, was certainly born out of the will of the local walnut producers and the municipal authorities, but in reality the territory of Motta Camastra has always been linked to the walnut. According to legend, indeed, on the night of Saint John the witches gathered around the walnut trees to dance and revel, then poisoning the plant with evil infusions.
In reality this fantastic story is the result of popular beliefs which, however, have a small grain of truth as the walnut plant releases the Jungladina, a natural substance that inhaled for a long time can be slightly toxic, however it makes us understand the close relationship that the territory has always had with the nut.

When the Walnut Festival takes place in Motta Camastra

The Walnut Festival in Motta Camastra is held every year in October, which is the most favorable period for picking the fruit. The date is variable since, preferring to organize the event over the weekend so as to allow for the presence of a larger audience, it changes according to the calendar, however it usually falls in the first ten days of the month.
During the walnut festival weekend, the appointments follow one after the other: they start in the morning with workshops dedicated to sector operators, and then continue during the day with exhibitions and guided tours. In the evening, instead, space for those with a sweet tooth with stands and folklore shows but also musical performances and much more.

Where the event takes place

The event took place in Motta Camastra, a locality also known for the Alcantara Gorges, and involved the entire community. In fact, over time the project has become not only a moment of knowledge of the Motta Camastra walnut but also an opportunity to promote the area and make the customs and traditions of the Sicilian peasantry better known.
For this reason, every alley of the village is involved in the festival and hosts not only the artisan stands but they are also a stop on guided tours. The larger squares, in particular Cross Square, are appointed to host the stands of food products related to nuts and more, given that the territory is also rich in terms of the production of cured meats, cheeses and much more.

What to do during the Walnut Festival in Motta Camastra

Obviously, the great protagonist of the Walnut Festival in Motta Camastra is the local walnut, which is offered not only naturally but also in many different preparations. The program of each edition usually opens with the inauguration of the event by the mayor who also kicks off the other related event which is Motta in the showcasefor the promotion of the territory.
During the whole day, visitors can then take part in guided tours or attend the traveling shows that move around the historic center and which usually involve musical bands or theatrical performances.
From 19.30 onwards, however, the food stands open, always offering different menus with the constant of the walnut being the protagonist of first courses, second courses and desserts. To close the evenings, various shows involving local and nationally renowned artists.

How to get to Motta Camastra

Visitors who decide to participate in the Walnut Festival in Motta Camastra can reach the town in various ways. First of all, they can use their own car, taking the A18 motorway from both Messina and Catania, with the exit at Fiume Freddo or at Giardini di Naxos. Those who prefer the train, on the other hand, will have to travel a more complex route since the town does not have a station and the closest ones are Taormina or Santa Teresa di Riva. In both cases it is then possible to take advantage of the local bus service to reach Motta Camastra.