Borghi in Maschera — Lenta Carnival Dinner and Bean Feast

The Carnival Bean Feast in Lenta

In the heart of the Vercelli Po Valley, the municipality of Lenta (Vercelli province, Piedmont) celebrates Carnival with its dinner and bean feast, a culinary and popular tradition that has always accompanied the mask season. The fagiolata—a soup of beans, pork rinds, and cured meats cooked slowly in large cauldrons and shared with the community—is the true convivial heart of the Piedmontese Carnival, a humble dish that has become a symbol of celebration and togetherness.

Part of 'Borghi in Maschera', the Widespread Carnival of Piedmont

The Lenta event is part of the major 'Borghi in Maschera' project, described as 'Italy's largest Carnival': a widespread festival involving dozens of municipalities in the Associazione Borghi delle Vie d'Acqua, a network uniting villages in the territory between the Sesia, Dora Baltea, and Po rivers. For several weeks, between late January and early March, parades of allegorical floats, masked dances, re-enactments, and bean feasts bring the villages of the lower Vercelli and Canavese areas to life, transforming the entire region into one big party.

A Tradition Linked to Water and Land

The Borghi delle Vie d'Acqua project highlights a landscape shaped over centuries by hydraulic works, rice paddies, and canals that have made this part of Piedmont famous. In this context, Lenta, with its historic village and rural roots, participates in the widespread Carnival by hosting its bean feast: a way to showcase the village and renew a sense of community around the table.

Atmosphere and Spirit of the Festival

• Dinner and bean feast: the highlight of the event, featuring the distribution of the traditional dish.
• Masks and dances: the joy of Carnival animating the village streets.
• Popular conviviality: a festival designed for the entire community and visitors alike.
• Network of villages: an opportunity to discover the other municipalities participating in 'Borghi in Maschera'.

More than just a single event, the Lenta bean feast is a piece of a large choral celebration that tells the story of the Vercelli province and Piedmont through its most authentic carnival tradition.