Carnival Vigil

The Carnival Vigil in Monghidoro

In the Municipality of Monghidoro, a town in the Bolognese Apennines on the border between Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, the Carnival Vigil is one of the most anticipated events of the winter calendar. It is a veglia in the truest sense of the word: an evening of popular celebration where the community gathers to dance, play, and sing together, according to a custom rooted in the peasant and mountain culture of the Savena and Idice valleys.

A Tradition Preserved by the Association

The event is organized by the cultural association "... e bene venga maggio", founded in Monghidoro in 1982 by a group of enthusiasts with the aim of passing on the oral culture and traditional music of the Bolognese valleys to new generations. The association reconstructs typical local gathering moments—feasts, vigils, and dances—involving singers, musicians, and dancers, and also manages a popular music school dedicated to traditional instruments.

The Music of the Suonatori della Valle del Savena

The beating heart of the evening is the Suonatori della Valle del Savena, a group that performs the repertoire of historical dances of the Bolognese Apennines. To the sound of the accordion, clarinet, violin, and double bass, they play the filuzzi, polka, mazurka, waltz, and other couple dances that once animated the farmyards and dance halls of the mountains. The live music, without intrusive amplification, restores the genuine atmosphere of ancient village vigils.

Masks, Conviviality, and Carnival

In the spirit of Carnival, participants are invited to come in costume, contributing to a cheerful and participatory atmosphere. The Municipal Hall of Monghidoro, in Via Matteotti, thus transforms into a place of intergenerational meeting, where experienced and beginner dancers, residents and visitors share the dance floor. There are also breaks for typical local sweets.

Why Participate

• An authentic vigil from the Bolognese Apennines, far from large tourist carnivals
• Live folk music performed by the Suonatori della Valle del Savena
• Traditional dances accessible to everyone, from the most experienced to the curious
• Free admission and a convivial atmosphere, in a true community spirit

The Carnival Vigil of Monghidoro, in the Province of Bologna, is much more than a party: it is an act of preserving collective memory and the popular traditions of the Apennine Emilia-Romagna.