This is only a selection of the many events taking place in Sardinia every year.

January
Sant’Antonio Abate
Celebrations in honour of Sant’Antonio Abate take place on the 16th of January all over Sardinia with the lighting of massive bonfires, which represent the descent of the Saint to hell from where, according to the legend, he managed to bring the fire on earth that was covered with ice.

February
Sa Sartiglia di Oristano
Sa Sartiglia in Oristano is the most spectacular and choreographed Carnival in Sardinia. An equestrian game with ancient origins in which brave horsemen compete with one another in a tournament to select the figure of Su Componidori, the horseman that wearing a mask of a mysterious God will pierce the star. The atmosphere is dramatic with the incessant rolling of the drums when the horseman wearing the mask of a mysterious God draws his sword holding it in front of him, he stands up on his saddle while he is galloping at high speed along the road, moments later the point of the sword pierces the star. He then proudly parades through the cheering crowd showing off his trophy.

May
Cavalcata Sarda
This parade of folkloristic groups from all over Sardinia exhibiting their colours and traditional costumes takes place the third Sunday in May in Sassari. The festival lasts all day, with the parade in the morning through the streets culminating in Piazza Italia, the square that the locals refer to as the “Lounge” of Sassari. In the afternoon the celebrations continue in the form of equestrian games and exhibitions at the hippodrome. Folkloristic dances and songs illuminate the evening until the early hours.
This festival is seen by Sardinian people as a celebration of spring.

June
Il Girotonno
International gastronomic competition taking place in Carloforte centred around bluefin tuna that sees chefs and food experts from all over the world getting together to celebrate an ancient old tradition.
Four days of unique appointments based on cultural tradition, including the arts, wine and food themes, music, dances and shows.

July
Ardia of San Costantino
L’Ardia takes place on the 6th and 7th of July in two places in Sardinia, the most famous is in Sedilo in the province of Oristano and the other in the small village of Pozzomaggiore in the province of Sassari. It is an ancient horse racing festival, a dangerous, rough race with a spiritual twist in celebration of San Costantino.
Hundreds of horsemen take part in the race, they parade and then gallop at breakneck speed in pairs and threes keeping the pace in a choreographic movement. Celebrations continue with music and shows until late in the evenings.

August
Is Fassonis Regatta – Cabras (Oristano)
This manifestation that takes place each year at the beginning of August in Cabras in the province of Oristano is a speed competition of “Is Fassonis”, a gondola type boat of ancient origins built by hand intertwining a special kind of bulrush that grows in the Cabras lagoon. At the end of the competition celebrations continue with fish barbeques and Vernaccia for everybody. Vernaccia is a sherry-like wine typical of this region.

Festa del Redentore
The festival features a festive, colourful and lively procession of folkloristic groups wearing the traditional Sardinian gowns, who are led by a cart and carriage. It takes place in Nuoro on the Sunday before the 29th of August. The best groups are selected by a jury for the final competition on the 29th of August when they exhibit with dance and music. The religion celebrations take place on the morning of the 29th when the worshippers gather at the cathedral from where they embark on the pilgrimage to the statue of the Redeemer in the woods of Mount Ortobene. For the people from Nuoro the pilgrimage and the celebrations around the statue in the woods represent the core of the festival.

September
Traditional wedding in Selargius
The celebration of the traditional Sardinian wedding takes place during the 2nd week of September in Selargius, in the province of Cagliari. Real couples get married every year following the old traditions wearing the traditional Sardinian wedding gown. At the end of the ceremony they are chained together to symbolise the union of their destinies. The whole town takes part in the celebrations by wearing the traditional gowns; the streets are decorated with flowers, all with cakes and drinks for everybody. In the evening celebrations continue with music and dances by folkloristic groups from all over Sardinia.

The Festival of San Salvatore and the barefoot run
This festival takes place on the 1st week-end of September in Cabras in the province of Oristano. On the 1st Saturday of September, at dawn, a group of around a thousand runners, all barefoot young men wearing a white robe, carry the simulacrum of San Salvatore from the church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cabras to the rural church of San Salvatore. The seven kilometre run is repeated on the Sunday in the opposite direction to return the statue of the Saint to the church in Cabras. The celebration recalls the saving of the statue during the 1500s’ after an attack by the Saracens. In the evening, celebrations continue with grilled fish and Vernaccia, a sherry-like wine typical of this region, for everybody.

October
The chestnut festival in Aritzo
The chestnut festival takes place at the end of October in Aritzo, in the heart of Barbagia. Three days of traditional celebrations including exhibitions, music, arts and crafts and gastronomic events. Food tasting based mostly around chestnuts, which can be eaten roasted or boiled, chestnut cakes and the carapigna, the typical sorbet from Aritzo. Other products from the area such as cheese and home baked breads are also on show.