Palermo, the Mediterranean Fair is back: starting on April 20th

April 17, 2024, 12:59 pm

6 min read

PALERMO – The Mediterranean Trade Fair returns in great style and form to its historic location, with entrances on Via Sadat and Piazza Cascino in Palermo. The fair, branded Mediexpo, with the patronage of the Sicilian Region, is returned to the city after five years. It will be inaugurated on Saturday 20 April at 6pm and will remain open until 5 May.

Every day from 4pm to midnight (including public holidays April 25th and May 1st); on Sundays from 10am to midnight. Free entry for everyone from Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 4pm to 7pm. After 7pm the cost of the ticket for adults will be 2.50 euros. Children aged 7 to 12 will pay 1 euro. Always free entry for children up to 6 years old.

Used as a vaccination hub, during the Covid period, and then closed for safety works that made it accessible, the 69th Trade Fair, with 70 thousand square meters of surface area between pavilions and external exhibition areas, it once again becomes a point of reference and commercial interest for exhibitors from all over Europe. It is the largest exhibition center in Sicily with a long tradition, which exists and endures.

All the details were revealed this morning at a press conference at Villa Niscemi, in the presence of the municipal councilor for Productive Activities, Giuliano Forzinetti, the president of the VI Council Commission Ottavio Zacco, the head of Suap Patrizia Milisenda, the president of Mediexpo, Massimiliano Mazzara and Sasà Taibi of Rta who will take care of the concerts and live shows with bands and artists every evening on the stage set up inside the fair.

Cars, boats, home and garden furniture, shopping, food, arts and hobbies. Hundreds of stands outside and inside the pavilions will be present with different types of goods. Coming from all over Italy and also from abroad, they are ready to welcome the many visitors, presenting their products and services. Ample space will also be given to local and ethnic craftsmanship and a long avenue will be dedicated to voluntary associations operating in the Sicilian territory. From Mediexpo they received free spaces and stands to present their activities and projects and raise citizens’ awareness of volunteering.

There will be no shortage of the large food area, larger and more equipped this year, with Sicilian street food but also typical dishes from other Italian regions and even from further afield. Tables and chairs will furnish the central and highest part of the Fair and every evening it will be a riot of smells and flavours. One of the biggest surprises this year will be the Luna Park. The highly anticipated rides are back in the historic area of ​​the Mediterranean Fair to welcome the youngest. Lights and lots of fun, a real amarcord that recalls the golden times of the Fair.

Space and entertainment even for the little ones with free games and workshop activities for all children. With the reopening of the Fair, ArteMed also returns, representing the artistic/cultural side of the event, a container where every form of art finds its place, integrating and enriching the fair context. A large space will be dedicated to artists and art craftsmen. New this year is the presence of a group of cartoonists, who with the ninth art will capture the attention of the youngest, therefore art for all ages.

For the inauguration, the teachers and students of the Cirs professional training center were involved, who will take care of the reception. The musical part will be performed by the Fidelis Polyphonic Choir of the national Carabinieri association, directed by maestro Domenico Guzzardo and by the orchestra of the musical center of Viale Campania. An inclusive orchestra, in which students of all ages play together with the teachers, under the direction of teacher Cinzia Gallo. The artistic direction is by Angela Sclafani.

A team effort between the Municipality of Palermo and Mediexpo which, year after year, is bringing to light parts of the Fair and pieces of history. A communion of intent that has allowed, during an impressive redevelopment work in recent years, to make pavilions 20, 16, 5/A, 5/B, 10, 15, 20/A and 22 usable again beyond the outdoor spaces (Luna Park and former Agriculture area). Pavilions 11, 24 and the former Household Area were also recovered.

“In 2015 we started this adventure interrupted by the pandemic. We are ready to continue that path – declares Massimiliano Mazzara, owner of Mediexpo who for 5 years oversaw the renovation of the pavilions, returning the fair to the city – with an even more attractive Trade Fair full of tradition, ideas and lots of fun. It will be a celebration for the city of Palermo. The Mediterranean Fair gives an important boost to the economy of our island – continues Mazzara –. Great credit goes to this courageous municipal and regional administration for having strongly believed in this synergy. The Mediterranean Fair is part of our history and our culture and the great economic driver it represents for everyone should not be underestimated. We did miracles to restart but we succeeded.”

There is also a rich program of collateral events that will be held within the Trade Fair, with the artistic direction of Sasà Taibi from Rta, again this year media partnership of the Fair.
Many moments of entertainment and free shows in the afternoon and every evening starting from 9pm. Among the artists are “I 4 Gusti”, “I Respinti” and many other well-known faces of Sicilian comedy.
Fashion shows and stages of the national Miss Queen of Italy competition organized by Giuseppe Messina Management.

By popular demand, there will also be “The Forty Who Dance 90” with an evening that will make you relish the taste of having fun like we did in those wonderful, nostalgic 90s by making everyone dance under the stars.

There is still plenty of space for live music, with the “Mediterraneo Cover Band Festival” competition. A review, as in past editions, with the best Sicilian cover bands, on the central stage of the Fair and live on Rta. On stage the music of many Sicilian artists: Cipster band, Sold Out band, Black and White, One Hundred, La Kombriccola, Calicanto, Araciu band, Adrian band and IPU’. On May 5th the winning band will be announced and will win, in addition to the trophy, also a latest generation digital mixer.

“This year too, Mediexpo trusted me to prepare the calendar of events – explains Sasà Taibi –. It is not easy to choose among the many artistic talents and we try to give space to all of them. The Trade Fair, which welcomes thousands of visitors every year, can give the great visibility that the many artists of our land deserve.”

The calendar

Saturday 20 April stage of the Miss Queen of Italy national competition
Sunday 21 April Cipster band
Monday 22 April Sold Out band
Tuesday 23 April Black and White
Wednesday 24 April Cabaret with I 4 Gusti followed by Acustic live
Thursday 25 April One Hundred
Friday 26 April La Kombriccola
Saturday 27 April fashion show
Sunday 28 April Calicanto
Monday 29 April Araciu band
Tuesday 30 April Cabaret with I Respinti and followed by the singer-songwriter Andrea Gioè
Wednesday 1 May Adrian band
Thursday 2 May IPU’
Friday 3 May The 40 dancing ’90
Saturday 4 May stage of the Miss Queen of Italy national competition
Sunday 5 May Competition final