International Mask Market Exhibition

A crossroads for carnivals from all over Italy

The International Mask Market Exhibition in Castelnovo di Sotto is an unparalleled event in the Italian panorama. Created to provide a meeting point for those who, out of passion or profession, animate the carnivals of the peninsula, it gathers numerous carnival delegations from all over Italy each year. During the day, each entity presents its activities through photos and videos, while at the same time, purchases and sales of parade floats, costumes, and masks are negotiated: a real market where ideas, materials, and papier-mâché know-how circulate.

Much more than a market

The event is not just about buying and selling. It is an opportunity for exchange and growth for the carnival world, where study conferences are also promoted on topics that can unite individual realities or offer historical and cultural insights. In this way, Castelnovo di Sotto, a small municipality in the Reggio Emilia plain, becomes the Italian capital of carnival for a day, networking master papier-mâché artists, associations, Pro Loco committees, and committees from all over the country.

The legacy of the Castlein and the Mask Museum

The event is rooted in an ancient carnival tradition: the Carnevale del Castlein recalls testimonies dating back to 1562, and it is among the longest-running historical festivals in Emilia-Romagna and the province of Reggio Emilia. The village retains a particular vocation for masks: as early as 1810, an artisan mask factory founded by Prospero Guatteri was active there, exporting its products to Switzerland, Austria, Tyrol, and France. Today, this legacy is preserved by the Mask Museum of the Carnival, housed in the Municipal Fortress, with a collection of over two hundred pieces including antique masks, metal molds, and plaster models.

Parades, awards, and a festive atmosphere

The Market Exhibition day is ideally linked to the four Sundays of parades of the Carnevale del Castlein, during which the large papier-mâché floats parade through the streets of the center amidst confetti and streamers, accompanied by collective masked groups, clowns, jugglers, and the Sgruzzi, the stilt walkers. The Market Exhibition is the moment when all this heritage is put back into circulation, with the proclamation and awards dedicated to the participating entities.

Why it's worth participating

• A unique event in Italy, dedicated exclusively to the world of carnival and masks.
• The meeting of carnival delegations from all over the peninsula, with presentations and exchanges.
• The link with the Mask Museum and the historic papier-mâché tradition of Castelnovo di Sotto.
• A dive into the cultural identity of Emilia-Romagna, a land of popular festivals and great craftsmanship.