Laives Carnival / Leiferer Fasching

The Laives Carnival, the heart of the South Tyrolean Fasching

The Laives Carnival (known in German as Leiferer Fasching) is considered one of the most important and popular carnival events in the Trentino-Alto Adige region. It takes place in the Municipality of Laives/Leifers, in the Province of Bolzano, specifically in the Pineta/Pinetadorf district where the event originated. Every year, the festival attracts crowds from across the Bolzano basin, transforming the streets into a long procession of allegorical floats, masks, and music.

A tradition born in 1978

The carnival is organized by the Gruppo Carnevalesco di Pineta, which has managed the annual edition since 1978, following initial children's events held in the mid-seventies. Originally a neighborhood celebration confined to the streets of Pineta, it has progressively expanded over the years: the increasing size of the floats led to moving the parade along the road connecting Pineta to the center of Laives, eventually involving the city of Bolzano with a second parade in the Don Bosco and Europa-Novacella districts.

The parade and the masks

The centerpiece of the festival is the grand parade of allegorical floats, crafted with care and irony by local and regional carnival groups. The procession is accompanied by costumed groups, marching bands, and choirs: among the historic participants, the Coro Monti Pallidi stands out, having been awarded multiple times over the years. Between 1992 and 2006, the event also featured an official competition between the floats, with a jury drawn by lot from the public.

Sbigolada, the trial and the burning of the Carnival

Alongside the parade, the Laives Carnival preserves some deeply felt traditions. The Sbigolade involves the free distribution of pasta to the public, while on Shrove Tuesday, the traditional trial and burning of the Carnival takes place in Pineta, with the effigy symbolizing the festival set ablaze to mark the end of the celebrations. There is no shortage of raffles, music, and refreshments that accompany the community throughout the carnival period.

A community celebration

More than just a folkloric event, the Laives Carnival is an occasion for gathering that unites young and old, associations, and local volunteers. The collaboration between the Gruppo Carnevalesco di Pineta, the Municipality of Laives, and the Municipality of Bolzano makes the event a symbol of South Tyrolean popular traditions, capable of bringing joy, music, and color to the streets of both cities.