Carnevale in Piazza

The Carnevale in Piazza in Margherita di Savoia

Carnevale in Piazza is the most anticipated event of the cold season in Margherita di Savoia, a coastal town in the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, in Apulia. For a few days between mid-February and Shrove Tuesday, the town's streets and squares transform into a massive open-air stage filled with masks, colors, music, and joy, bringing together families, local businesses, and residents of all ages.

A neighborhood-wide carnival

The unique feature of this festival is its widespread nature: rather than a single parade, it consists of a series of events animating different districts. It kicks off in the Isolaverde-Città Giardino and San Pio neighborhoods, eventually converging in the town center, with a gathering point in Piazza Generale Dalla Chiesa. The parades travel along the main streets, including Corso Nunzio Ricco, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, and Via Africa Orientale.

Parades, floats, and the confetti battle

The heart of the event is the allegorical float parade, accompanied by costumed groups, handmade outfits, music, and entertainment. The program includes DJ sets, mascots for children, and an award ceremony for the most original costumes. The grand finale is the spectacular confetti battle, an explosion of color that brings each afternoon of festivities to a vibrant close.

Carnival flavors: the chiacchiere

As tradition dictates, Carnival is also a time for indulgence. Along the parade route, a food area is set up with sweet and savory offerings. The undisputed queens of the table are chiacchiere—traditional fried pastries made from flour, butter, eggs, and sugar, dusted with powdered sugar—which have always been a staple of Apulian Carnival celebrations.

Who organizes the festival

Carnevale in Piazza is the result of a collaboration between the Paese Mio association, the San Pio Parish with Father Michele Schiavone, and the Municipality of Margherita di Savoia, alongside other local groups. It is an authentically grassroots festival, built by the citizens themselves with handmade masks and costumes.

Margherita di Savoia, the city of salt pans

Known throughout Apulia for its salt pans (the largest in Europe) and its beaches, Margherita di Savoia uses Carnevale in Piazza as an opportunity to showcase the town's most lively and communal side, far from the summer beach season. It is a free, family-friendly event, perfect for experiencing the most authentic carnival atmosphere on the Adriatic coast.