There is only one major annual event in Lampedusa which is unique to the area, but it is one which is definitely worth checking out.   It is the Madonna di Lampedusa Procession which takes place each September in order to honor the patron saint of the island.  It is a religious celebration but many non-religious activities take place, offering visitors a chance to truly experience the local culture if they are in the area during the time in which it takes place.  The major event associated with the festival is the parade, which begins on the first Sunday of September but which doesn’t culminate until the end of the month.  The men in the town hoist a large statue of the patron saint upon their shoulders and carry it from the town’s sanctuary to the town’s main church.  This statue is then hidden until the end of September, when the formal parade occurs and the whole town celebrates.  There are live music events, children’s activities, feasts and fireworks all associated with this event.

Although this is the only event in the area which is widely recognized, the people living in Lampedusa celebrate the major holidays such as Christmas and Easter with smaller, local activities.   There are also numerous vents taking place all throughout the surrounding area with Sicily and Italy drawing many Lampedusa visitors in throughout the year.   See http://www.investsicily.com/events.htm for more information about such events.