Palermo revives Mediterranean Fair: includes cars, boats, furniture, food area, and rides
The Mediterranean Trade Fair returns to Palermo in its historic location, with entrances on via Sadat and piazza Cascino. The fair, organized by Mediexpo and sponsored by the Sicilian Region, is being returned to the city after five years. It will be inaugurated on Saturday, April 20 at 6pm and will remain open until May 5. Everyday from 4pm to midnight (including holidays such as April 25 and May 1); Sundays from 10am to midnight. Free entry for everyone from Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) from 4pm to 7pm. After 7pm, the ticket cost for adults will be 2.50 euros. Children aged 7 to 12 will pay 1 euro. Entry is always free for children under 6 years old.
Used as a vaccination hub during the Covid period, and then closed for safety work to make it accessible, the 69th Trade Fair will have a total area of 70,000 square meters between pavilions and outdoor exhibition areas. Details were unveiled this morning (April 17) in 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 Suap manager Patrizia Milisenda; the president of Mediexpo, Massimiliano Mazzara; Sasà Taibi from Rta who will organize concerts and live performances with bands and artists every evening on the stage set up inside the Fair.
Cars, boats, home and garden furniture, shopping, food, arts, and crafts. Hundreds of stands inside and outside the pavilions will be present with different types of products. Coming from all over Italy and even abroad, they are ready to welcome many visitors, presenting their products and services. There is also space for local and ethnic craftsmanship, and a long avenue will be dedicated to volunteer organizations operating in Sicily. These organizations have received free space and stands from Mediexpo to present their activities and projects and raise awareness of volunteering to citizens.
Carousel rides are back in the historic area of the Mediterranean Trade Fair to entertain the younger visitors. Lights and lots of fun, a real stroll down memory lane that recalls the golden times of the Fair. There will also be entertainment and activities for the little ones with free games and workshops 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 trade fair context.
A space will be dedicated to artists and artisans. This year’s novelty is the presence of a group of comic book artists, who will capture the attention of the younger audience with the ninth art, so art for all ages.
For the inauguration, the teachers and students of the vocational training center Cirs will be involved in welcoming guests. The musical part will be curated by the Fidelis Polyphonic Choir of the National Carabinieri Association, directed by maestro Domenico Guzzardo, and by the orchestra of the music center in viale Campania. An inclusive orchestra in which students of all ages play together with the teachers, under the direction of maestra Cinzia Gallo. The artistic direction is by Angela Sclafani.
It is a team effort between the Municipality of Palermo and Mediexpo that, year after year, is bringing back parts of the Fair and pieces of history. A shared intention that, over the years, has made the pavilions 20, 16, 5/A, 5/B, 10, 15, 20/A, and 22, as well as the external spaces (Luna Park area and former Agriculture), usable again. The pavilions 11, 24, and the former Household Goods Area have also been restored.
“In 2015, we started this adventure interrupted by the pandemic. We are ready to continue that path – says Massimiliano Mazzara, owner of Mediexpo who has been managing the restoration of the pavilions for 5 years, returning the fair to the city – with an even more attractive and tradition-rich Trade Fair, full of ideas and fun. It will be a celebration for the city of Palermo. The Mediterranean Trade Fair gives an important boost to the economy of our island – Mazzara continues – . Great credit goes to this courageous municipal and regional administration for strongly believing in this synergy. The Mediterranean Trade Fair is part of our history and culture, and the significant economic momentum that it represents for everyone should not be underestimated. We have worked miracles to restart, but we have succeeded.”
“In the video interviews with: Massimiliano Mazara, organizer; Giuliano Forzinetti, municipal councilor for productive activities”
A Palermo riecco la Fiera Campionaria del Mediterraneo: spazio ad auto, barche, arredi e tornano area food e giostre
Sicilian news
Tutte le Notizie in Italiano
SIGDS