Rifreddo Carnival

The Rifreddo Carnival

The Rifreddo Carnival is the most anticipated winter event in this small town in the lower Po Valley, in the province of Cuneo, in the heart of southern Piedmont. For four decades, the festival has marked the town's calendar, bringing the community together around its historic masks and enlivening February days with parades, music, social gatherings, and the unmistakable, lighthearted spirit of the Piedmontese carnival.

Luis and the Bela Lasardera, the iconic masks

At the heart of the event are the official masks, Luis and the Bela Lasardera, portrayed each year by local residents and accompanied by a true court of pages and bridesmaids. The masks are not only the stars of the festival days but also represent Rifreddo throughout the entire carnival season, taking part in events in neighboring towns and carrying the town's name across the province.

The festival program

The main weekend of the carnival revolves around the marquee set up in Piazza della Vittoria, which becomes the hub of the festivities. Traditional events include:

• the children's dance with the presence of the Rifreddo masks and those from neighboring towns;
• the dinner with the official investiture of the new masks;
• Holy Mass and the performance of flag-wavers;
• community lunches under the large marquee;
• the polenta feast in the square, the most awaited gastronomic moment, featuring polenta with toppings served to participants.

A community tradition

The Rifreddo Carnival is organized by the Pro Loco of Rifreddo in close collaboration with the Municipality of Rifreddo and the Rifreddo Mask Group, with the invaluable contribution of local volunteers and groups. It is an authentically popular festival, capable of uniting generations and passing on the local traditions of the Po Valley and the Saluzzo area within a framework of strong Piedmontese identity.

When it takes place

The carnival is traditionally held in February, coinciding with the carnival season, with the main weekend dedicated to parades, the investiture, and the polenta feast, in addition to the masks' visits to schools and through the town streets.