Caresanablot Carnival

The town's carnival, among the rice paddies of Vercelli

In the small town of Caresanablot, just a few kilometers from the provincial capital of Vercelli, the Carnival is much more than a simple celebration: it is a time when the entire community gathers around its traditional masks and customs. The festivities are organized by the Associazione Folkloristica Caresanablottese, which has curated a program for all ages for years, from the youngest children to the elderly in the local nursing home.

The Bacan and Bacanota masks

The absolute stars of the festival are the Bacan and the Bacanota, the official masks of the Caresanablot Carnival. During the festival days, they tour the town, visiting the nursery school, kindergarten, and nursing home, and symbolically receive the keys to the town: a gesture that, according to Piedmontese carnival tradition, entrusts them with the cheerful and lighthearted governance of the town for the duration of the festivities.

A program for the whole community

The calendar spans several weeks and alternates moments dedicated to children, such as the famous Children's Dance in the Festival Hall, with more convivial events for adults and families. The program also includes visits to the local A.s.D. Rollerblot sports club and institutional moments like the official handover of the keys at the Town Hall.

• The Children's Dance, with free admission (donations welcome)
• Visits by the masks to schools and the nursing home
• The handover of the town keys to the Bacan and Bacanota
• Distribution of the bean stew and the Carnival lunch

The bean stew and the final lunch

The grand finale is dedicated to popular gastronomy: on the final morning, fagiolata (bean stew)—the signature dish of Piedmontese carnivals made with beans and cotechino sausage—is prepared in large pots and offered to the public. Following this, the Carnival Lunch takes place at the Festival Hall on Via Aldo Moro, a highly anticipated convivial event for which reservations are required.

An authentic Piedmontese Carnival

Far from the major tourist carnivals, the Caresanablot event preserves the intimate dimension of a village festival, where the bonds between people and the passing down of traditions to new generations are what truly count. For those visiting the Vercelli area and the Piedmont region in winter, it is a chance to experience a genuine popular festival in the heart of the rice-growing territory.