Sangiustese Carnival

The Sangiustese Carnival, a living tradition of the Canavese

In the heart of winter, the small town of San Giusto Canavese, located in the Metropolitan City of Turin and the Canavese territory (Piedmont), transforms to celebrate its Sangiustese Carnival. It is one of those local festivals where the entire community comes together: children, adults, and the elderly parade through the streets of the historic center, surrounded by the colors, music, and joy that only Carnival can provide.

Tirapere and Gerbolina, the town's masks

The absolute protagonists are Tirapere and Gerbolina, the historic masks portrayed each year by a young couple from the town. For the 2026 edition, the roles were held by Vito (Tirapere) and Carlotta (Gerbolina), supported by pages Elisa and Nicolò. Beside them march the Knights of the Commenda, former Tirapere and Gerbolina who, with their red capes, guard the memory of past editions. The passing of the costume and role from generation to generation is one of the most touching aspects of the festival: it is not uncommon for a Gerbolina to wear the original garments of her parents, preserved for decades.

A community celebration

The San Giusto Carnival is more than just a masked parade: it is identity, belonging, and shared memory. The festival kicks off with the official presentation of the masks from the Town Hall balcony before a crowded square, followed by an evocative evening torchlight procession through the town streets. The following days feature the distribution of fagioli grassi (the traditional bean stew), parades of allegorical floats and folk groups, culminating in the burning of the scarlo in the Town Hall square, which symbolically closes the Carnival.

Organization

The event is curated with great passion by the Pro Loco UNPLI of San Giusto Canavese, which involves volunteers, families, and local associations every year. It is this collective energy that makes the Sangiustese Carnival an event capable of resisting even bad weather: when rain forces the parade to be postponed, the community responds with even more enthusiasm, proving that the festival depends not on the calendar, but on the participation of the people.