Carnival Bean Feast – Pro Loco Andorno Micca

The Carnival Bean Feast in Andorno Micca

The Carnival Bean Feast is one of the most cherished winter events in Andorno Micca, a small town in the Cervo Valley, in the province of Biella, in the heart of Piedmont. The bean feast is a gastronomic tradition rooted throughout the Biella area: during the Carnival days, large copper cauldrons are placed over the fire from the morning to slowly cook beans, pork rinds, and sausage, resulting in a hearty dish that is then distributed to everyone, residents and visitors alike.

A dish that unites the community

More than just a food festival, the bean feast is a moment of strong social cohesion. Families, the elderly, and children gather around the steaming cauldrons in a festive atmosphere that recalls the authentic spirit of the mountain Carnival. The free sharing of the dish is the symbolic gesture that gives meaning to the entire day: no one is left out, and the square becomes the living room of the whole town.

The return of the Pro Loco

The 2026 edition marked a special moment for Andorno Micca: the Carnival Bean Feast was the first event of the new Pro Loco, officially presented to the citizens on February 1st, 2026, at the Parco della Salute multi-purpose hall. The rebirth of the association, welcomed with great participation, has brought energy and enthusiasm back to the life of the town, with the declared goal of promoting the Cervo Valley area and bringing the community together around its traditions.

The tradition of the Biella bean feast

The bean feast has its roots in a peasant and alpine culture where the bean represented a humble but nutritious food, capable of sustaining those who worked the land and the mountains. During Carnival, its collective preparation became a celebration: an opportunity to meet, to warm up together during the coldest months, and to share what one had. In Andorno Micca, as in many towns of the Cervo Valley, this custom has survived to the present day, keeping its value of hospitality and conviviality intact.

Why attend

• Savor the fagiolata, a typical dish of the Biella Carnival, prepared according to the traditional recipe.
• Experience the authentic atmosphere of a village festival in the picturesque setting of the Cervo Valley.
• Support the newly reformed Pro Loco of Andorno Micca and its activities for the community.
• Discover a corner of Piedmont often off the beaten tourist path, made of mountains, traditions, and genuine hospitality.