Bosco Marengo Carnival Festival

The local Carnival in Piazza Mercato

The Bosco Marengo Carnival Festival is one of the most anticipated annual events in this small town in the province of Alessandria, Piedmont. Every winter, during the Carnival season, Piazza Mercato fills with colors, confetti, and laughter to welcome young and old for an afternoon of tradition and community joy.

An event designed for children and families

Promoted and organized by the A.T. Pro Loco of Bosco Marengo, the event maintains the authentic spirit of Piedmontese village festivals: no massive floats or spectacular parades, but a simple and genuine opportunity to gather as a community. The stars of the show are the children, who are invited to attend in costume to turn the square into a vibrant, festive space.

Games, treats, and tradition

The afternoon program revolves around some of the essential elements of the Italian Carnival:

• Games and entertainment for the little ones;
• Fritters and traditional Carnival sweets;
• Hot chocolate to warm up the winter afternoon;
• The classic pentolaccia, the Carnival version of the piñata filled with sweets and surprises, highly anticipated by the children;
• Plenty of fun and music to enjoy together.

In the heart of Bosco Marengo

The festival takes place in the town center, in Piazza Mercato, the heart of social life in Bosco Marengo. The village is famous above all for the Santa Croce monumental complex, commissioned by Pope Pius V (who was born here) and home to important Renaissance artworks linked to Giorgio Vasari. The Carnival Festival is one of many moments where the Pro Loco and the local community keep the town's festive traditions alive, from the Feast of Saint Anthony to the Patronal Feast, and the summer food festivals.

In case of bad weather, the event is usually moved to the municipal hall, ensuring the celebration can go ahead even in the cold or rain typical of the Piedmontese winter season.