Paesana Carnival

Paesana Carnival: A Community Celebration in the Po Valley

The Paesana Carnival is one of the most cherished events in the winter calendar of this town in the Po Valley, located in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont. Organized by the Pro Loco Paesana, it is a genuine popular festival filled with allegorical floats, masks, and a great sense of community. It is a day that brings color to the town squares at the foot of Monviso, gathering families, children, and costumed groups from the surrounding Saluzzo area and the nearby Canavese region.

Allegorical Floats and the New Push-Carts

The heart of the event is the allegorical float parade. The Pro Loco has adopted a format that highlights the float gathering while keeping costs contained and the spectacle intact. Alongside the medium and large motorized floats, a push-cart category has been introduced, specifically designed for families—a novelty that has quickly won over both adults and children, restoring the Carnival to its former glory.

• Large and medium motorized floats: expense reimbursement and prizes for the best float;
• Small push-carts: prizes for beauty, originality, and the largest themed group;
• Jury composed of Pro Loco members, historical masks, municipal administration, and local merchants.

Historical Masks and the Band

A solemn moment is the official investiture of the Paesana Masks, the traditional figures who embody the spirit of the town. The marching band accompanies the inauguration, while the costumed participants also visit the local nursing home, a sign of a festival that remains deeply rooted in the community.

The Alpini's Polenta

No Paesana Carnival would be complete without the polenta with stew, cooked and served by the local Alpini group: a traditional dish enjoyed in the square, in good company, with hundreds of portions served every year. It is the convivial moment that best captures the soul of this festival, where gastronomic tradition and folklore go hand in hand.

A Tradition Focused on Families

In recent years, the Paesana Carnival has renewed its format, focusing decisively on involving families and children, who have become the true protagonists of the parade. With games for children, music, and festive moments on Saturday evening, the event confirms the role of the Pro Loco Paesana in preserving and relaunching the popular traditions of the Po Valley.