Balzola Carnival

The Balzola Carnival, a festival for the whole village

In the heart of the Monferrato, on the plain crossed by waterways between the Po and the Dora Baltea, the Balzola Carnival is one of the most cherished winter events for this small town in the province of Alessandria. For two days, the entire village mobilizes: families, volunteers, children, and revelers of all ages bring to life an authentically popular festival, built with passion by the local community and capable of attracting visitors from across the Casale area.

The Grand Masquerade Ball

The festival traditionally opens on Saturday evening with the Grand Masquerade Ball hosted in the rooms of the Parish Oratory, made available by the parish. It is the most convivial moment of the Balzola Carnival: music, costumes, and dancing bring together young and old in a warm and familiar atmosphere, anticipating the festivities of the following day.

The grand allegorical parade

The heart of the event is the Sunday afternoon parade, which winds through the streets of Balzola's historic center. Leading the procession is the Castle float with the Carnival sovereigns, Ruchin and Ruseta, accompanied by their numerous court in traditional attire. Following them are the masked groups from the various village districts, who choose a different theme each year and create costumes and floats with great care:

• the Pozzarello district, with the theme "Alice in Wonderland";
• the Giarone-Borgoratto district, with "101 Dalmatians";
• the Vilaveri district, with "The Smurfs".

Guest masks and groups from neighboring towns also participate in the parade, in a climate of joyful rivalry between the districts that is the spice of this carnival tradition.

A networked Carnival: Borghi in Maschera

The Balzola Carnival is part of Borghi in Maschera, the large circuit promoted by the Borghi delle Vie d'Acqua association, which brings together dozens of municipalities in Piedmont across the provinces of Vercelli, Alessandria, and Pavia. Considered one of the largest decentralized carnivals in Italy in terms of scale and participation, the project offers parades of allegorical floats, bean feasts, and re-enactments every weekend from February to March, moving from village to village and highlighting the identity of the communities of the Monferrato rice-growing plain.

A free festival for everyone

Organized jointly by the Parish, the Municipality of Balzola, and the Pro Loco Rimbalzolando APS, with the invaluable support of volunteers and the Civil Protection, the Balzola Carnival offers completely free admission. It is a simple and genuine opportunity to discover the conviviality of a Monferrato village and experience Carnival in its most authentic and communal dimension, far from the major tourist circuits.