Castell'Alfero Carnival – Carnival Funfair

Castell'Alfero Carnival: An old-fashioned village celebration

In the small town of Castell'Alfero, nestled in the heart of the Asti Monferrato, the Carnival returns to brighten the historic center with its Carnival Funfair. Rather than a large-scale event with monumental floats, this is a genuine village festival created by local associations: an afternoon designed primarily for children and families to rediscover the simple joy of playing and gathering in the square.

Piazza Castello transformed into a funfair

The heart of the celebration is Piazza Castello, at the foot of the historic Palazzo Amico, where a real funfair dedicated to "old-fashioned games" is set up. Forget electric rides: here, you play sack races, piñatas, relay races, and target shooting, all under the guidance of animators managing each stand. It is an opportunity to revive traditional pastimes and offer children an afternoon of wholesome, free fun.

The Costume Parade and contest

The highlight of the day is the grand Costume Parade, which winds through the village streets in a colorful procession, escorted for safety by the Castell'Alfero Alpini group. The festival also features a costume contest divided into three age categories — children (0-10 years), youths (11-17 years), and adults (18-99 years) — judged by a special jury including the Mayor, city council members, representatives of the Palio Committee's Artistic Commission, and delegates from the Pro Loco and AVIS.

Polenta, bugie, and the spirit of local associations

Throughout the afternoon, the Castell'Alfero Pro Loco serves polenta and bugie, the typical fried pastries of the Piedmontese Carnival, accompanying the festivities with traditional flavors. The event is the result of a shared effort by numerous local entities — the Castell'Alfero Oratory, the Seconda Stella Cooperative, the ASD Natura&Salute, the Callianetto Scout group, the Pro Loco, the local AVIS, and the Alpini — with the patronage of the Municipality of Castell'Alfero.

A Carnival with Asti roots

Castell'Alfero boasts a solid Carnival tradition: the town is known for its Asti-style masks and its flag-wavers, who perform even outside the province, while the hamlet of Callianetto is linked to the legend of Gianduja, the historic mask of Piedmont. The Carnival Funfair renews this bond with local folk culture every year in a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere.