Carvè 'd Netro Carnival

The carnival in the heart of the Elvo Valley

In the heart of the Elvo Valley, in the province of Biella, the town of Netro hosts one of its most cherished annual events: the Carvè 'd Netro, the village's traditional carnival. It is a festival that belongs entirely to the community, organized by the Pro Loco of Netro in collaboration with local associations and under the patronage of the Municipality. Here, the carnival is not a spectacle to be watched from afar, but an event to be experienced: from the youngest to the oldest, the entire village gets involved.

The Count and the Countess, the village masks

The thread that holds the entire event together is the official village masks, the Count and Countess of Netro. The festival comes to life with their official presentation at the Town Hall and the evocative key-handing ceremony, a symbolic gesture by which the village entrusts its fate to the carnival masks for a few days. Surrounding them are their entourage, masks from neighboring towns, and a large representation of folk groups arriving from all over Piedmont and the nearby Aosta Valley.

The bean stew, the parade, and the festival for everyone

The most anticipated moment is the grand parade on Sunday, which winds through the center of Netro amidst floats, confetti, dancing, and music. Traditional masks, marching bands, fifes and drums, masked groups, and majorettes parade in a colorful procession that involves people of all ages. Warming up the day is the fagiolata, the traditional distribution of beans prepared by the Netro Alpini Group, a true institution of the local carnival.

Alongside the parade, the Carvè 'd Netro is defined by its community dinners: from the opening dinner featuring polenta and cod in the multi-purpose hall to the final closing dinner, these are moments when the village gathers around the table. There is no shortage of disco nights for the younger crowd and the awards ceremony for the masks and groups, which bring the three days of festivities to a joyful close.

A Biella carnival to experience

Among the many carnival celebrations in the province of Biella, the Carvè 'd Netro retains the authentic flavor of village events: unassuming on paper, yet capable of transforming a small Elvo Valley hamlet into a crossroads of Piedmontese traditions. It is the ideal opportunity to discover a lesser-known corner of Piedmont and to experience the carnival as the locals do, amidst confetti, bean stew, and historic masks.