Borgo d'Ale Carnival

The Carnival that lights up the winter in Borgo d'Ale

When February settles over the hills of the Vercelli area, Borgo d'Ale dresses up for its Carnival. In this small town in the Province of Vercelli, on the border between the rice-growing plains of Piedmont and the first morainic hills, the carnival tradition is a deeply felt event that brings families, children, and masks from neighboring villages together in the town square.

Everything is organized by the Pro Loco of Borgo d'Ale, the heart of the town's festivities and the mastermind behind a program that focuses on time-honored rituals: the handing over of the keys to the masks, the introduction of the characters who bring the village to life, and conviviality around the table.

Masks, beans, and a confetti battle

The Borgo d'Ale Carnival unfolds over two days. It opens on Saturday evening with the handing over of the keys and the official presentation of the local and neighboring masks at the Town Hall (Salone Comunale): a symbolic moment where the community ideally entrusts the reins of the village to the protagonists of the festival.

Sunday is dedicated to the most popular rituals: the distribution of beans in the town hall courtyard recalls the great tradition of the Vercelli bean feasts, where this humble dish becomes a collective ritual. After Holy Mass at the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo, the afternoon turns into a party for the little ones, with games and a wild confetti battle at the Town Hall, accompanied by a snack offered by the Pro Loco.

A festival in the heart of the Piedmontese Waterways

The Borgo d'Ale Carnival is part of the rich network of carnivals in the Vercelli area, a land of historical masks and famous bean feasts. More than a spectacular parade, the Carnival here is an intimate and authentic celebration of a village coming together: a perfect opportunity to discover the hospitality of Borgo d'Ale and the genuine atmosphere of Piedmontese villages.