Occhieppo Superiore Carnival Bean Festival

The Carnival Bean Festival in Occhieppo Superiore

The Carnival Bean Festival is one of the most cherished winter events in Occhieppo Superiore, a small town in the province of Biella, at the gateway to the Elvo Valley in the heart of Piedmont. The fagiolata is a deeply rooted gastronomic tradition throughout the Biella area: during the Carnival days, large cauldrons are set over the fire from the early morning to slowly cook beans, pork rinds, and sausage, resulting in a hearty dish that is then distributed to residents and visitors in a festive atmosphere.

A celebration at the Fishermen's Lake

In Occhieppo Superiore, the bean festival is held at the Fishermen's Association Lake, on Via Opifici Negro, a unique and picturesque setting that links the Carnival tradition to the town's community life. The Occhieppo Superiore Fishermen's Association (A.P.O.S.), founded in 1973 and primarily dedicated to trout fishing, organizes various social initiatives throughout the year—including the bean festival, the fisherman's lunch, social dinners, chestnut roasts, and barbecues—that make the lake a meeting point for the community.

The tradition of the Biella bean festival

The fagiolata has its roots in a peasant and alpine culture where the bean was a humble yet nutritious food, capable of sustaining those who worked the land. During Carnival, its collective preparation became a celebration: an opportunity to meet up, warm up together during the coldest months, and share what one had. Throughout the Biella area, from Occhieppo Superiore to the towns of the Elvo and Cervo Valleys, this custom has survived to the present day, keeping its value of hospitality and conviviality intact.

An event for families

More than just a simple festival, the bean festival is a moment of social cohesion. Families, the elderly, and children gather around the steaming cauldrons in a serene atmosphere that recalls the authentic spirit of a village Carnival. Sharing the hot dish is the symbolic gesture that gives meaning to the entire day, transforming the lake into a large communal table open to the whole town.

Why attend

• Savor the fagiolata, a typical dish of the Biella Carnival, prepared according to the traditional recipe in large cauldrons.
• Experience the atmosphere of a village festival in the picturesque setting of the Fishermen's Lake.
• Support the Occhieppo Superiore Fishermen's Association and its local activities.
• Discover a corner of Piedmont defined by traditions, genuine hospitality, and authentic flavors in the province of Biella.