Al Carvè d'Als — Alice Castello Carnival

The heart of the Alice Castello Carnival

Al Carvè d'Als — the "Alice Carnival" in the local dialect — is the festival that brings the streets of Alice Castello to life every winter. Located in the Province of Vercelli, in the heart of eastern Piedmont, this is a village carnival in the most genuine sense of the term. Born from a desire to revive a beautiful tradition, it has grown year after year, now involving over 130 children and teenagers, accompanied by their families and many local residents.

The Gurin and Gurin-a masks

The absolute stars of the festival are Gurin and Gurin-a, the traditional masks of Alice Castello, to whom the keys of the town are symbolically entrusted: for a few days, they reign over the collective joy. The parade also welcomes guests from neighboring towns, such as the General and Arianna arriving from Viverone, a testament to the bonds between the communities of the Vercelli and Biella areas.

Parades, dancing, and bean stew

The program offers something for all ages. The festival kicks off with a masquerade ball at the multi-purpose hall on Via Cossano, continues with the "Strolling through the confetti" parade starting from the Casa degli Alicesi, and culminates with the grand carnival bean stew (fagiolata), a symbolic dish of Piedmontese conviviality, prepared in collaboration with local associations like the Alice Castello Motoclub. A second parade brings the festivities to a beautiful close.

• Masked parades through the town center
• Masquerade ball at the Via Cossano multi-purpose hall
• Carnival bean stew in collaboration with local associations
• Handing over of the town keys to the Gurin and Gurin-a masks

A carnival for families

Often called the "children's carnival," Al Carvè d'Als is designed primarily for the little ones, but it succeeds in engaging the entire community. The heart of the event is the Casa degli Alicesi, an ancient renovated farmhouse that now hosts the Pro Loco and the town's main events, overlooking the market square. For those visiting this part of Piedmont, it is an opportunity to discover an authentic festival, far from the large tourist parades, where participation and local ties are what truly matter.