Segavecchia
The historical mid-Lent carnival in Forlimpopoli
About Segavecchia
The identity festival of Forlimpopoli
Segavecchia is much more than a carnival: it is the festival that tells the soul of Forlimpopoli, the Artusi city in the heart of Romagna, in the province of Forlì-Cesena (Emilia-Romagna). It is one of the oldest and most cherished events in the area, a mid-Lent celebration whose origins, according to local chronicles, date back to the 14th century. Every year, it transforms the historic center and Piazza A. Fratti into a grand popular stage filled with colors, music, tradition, and fun for all ages.
The myth of the Vecchia
The central figure of the festival is the Vecchia (Old Woman), a large female effigy that the community symbolically puts "on trial" before cutting or burning it. The tradition stems from an agrarian myth linked to the cult of Mother Earth and fertility: the Vecchia refers to the figure of Demeter, goddess of grain and agriculture, and her daughter Persephone. When the puppet is cut, candies and toys fall from its belly for the children: a cathartic and auspicious gesture that closes winter and opens spring, in which the entire citizenry recognizes itself.
Allegorical floats and masked parades
The most anticipated moments are the parades of allegorical floats and masked groups on foot, which liven up the two central Sundays with the evocative "passeggiata della Vecchia" (walk of the Old Woman). Alongside floats from outside the city, the Forlimpopoli float parades, and of course, the Vecchia float, the symbol of the event. The grand finale is the nighttime masked parade followed by the cutting of the Vecchia and a fireworks display that illuminates the historic center.
A festival for the whole community
Segavecchia is not just about floats: for nine days, the fair brings a funfair, antique and collectors' markets, vintage car and motorcycle exhibitions, concerts, a brass band, workshops for children, and tournaments, along with the unmissable tombola (bingo). Many initiatives also have a charitable aspect, such as the sale of handmade eggs and colombe cakes. Organized by the Ente Folkloristico e Culturale Forlimpopolese, the event is recognized by the Emilia-Romagna Region as one of the historical carnivals of the territory.
Segavecchia — edition 2026
Segavecchia 2026 animated Forlimpopoli from March 7th to 15th with a rich program, spread across Piazza A. Fratti and the historic center. The fair with its funfair and stalls opened on Saturday, March 7th, accompanied by the 34th Tree Festival, collections of Guzzi motorcycles and vintage cars, and carnival mask workshops with building blocks.
The two central Sundays featured parades of allegorical floats and the "passeggiata della Vecchia", with float voting from 11:00 AM to 6:30 PM. The grand finale on Sunday, March 15th, included the AVIS tombola draw, the nighttime masked parade with the cutting of the Vecchia at 8:45 PM, and the final fireworks display at 11:00 PM.
Programme Segavecchia 2026
Saturday, March 7th
- 2:00 PM — Fair opening with funfair and stalls in the squares
- 2:30 PM — 34th Tree Festival (Green Area)
- 3:00 PM-6:00 PM — Guzzi Motorcycle Collection Brunelli (via Roma 32)
- 3:00 PM-6:00 PM — Carnival masks with building blocks (via del Castello)
- 3:00 PM-5:00 PM — Exhibition of school drawings (Council Hall)
- from 10:00 PM — DJ set Toffolomuzik at Bevitori Longevi
Sunday, March 8th
- 8:30 AM — Street market and fair reopening
- 9:30 AM-12:00 PM — Ferrari Club car exhibition and masked float gathering
- 10:00 AM-6:00 PM — Guzzi Motorcycle Collection and drawing exhibition
- from 2:00 PM — Entertainment with Radio Studio Delta
- 2:30 PM — Performance by the Historical Group Brunoro II Zampeschi
- 3:00 PM — Masked parades with the "passeggiata della Vecchia"
Monday, March 9th & Tuesday, March 10th
- from 3:00 PM — "Girl/Boy Day" at the funfair
Wednesday, March 11th
- 9:00 AM — Carnival mask workshop at school
- from 3:00 PM — Funfair day
Thursday, March 12th
- 8:00 PM — Chess tournament (former Rosetti Kindergarten)
Friday, March 13th
- from 10:00 PM — Killerdi event
Saturday, March 14th
- 2:00 PM — Fair reopening
- 3:00 PM-6:00 PM — Guzzi Motorcycle Collection and masks with building blocks
- from 10:00 PM — Live concert by Collettivo Collimare
Sunday, March 15th — Festival climax
- 8:30 AM — Market and fair reopening
- 9:00 AM-5:00 PM — Sale of chocolate eggs for the Hospice
- 9:30 AM-12:00 PM — Vintage car exhibition and floats
- 2:30 PM — Performance by the Bettolle Philharmonic
- 3:00 PM — Afternoon masked parades
- 8:00 PM — AVIS tombola draw
- 8:45 PM — Nighttime masked parade with the cutting of the Vecchia
- 11:00 PM — Final fireworks display
Highlights Segavecchia 2026
Prices Segavecchia 2026
Practical information — Segavecchia
Where
Historic center of Forlimpopoli (FC), with the heart of the festival in Piazza A. Fratti. The city is located along the Via Emilia, between Forlì and Cesena.
How to get there
By car: Forlì highway exit (A14), then take the Via Emilia towards Cesena. By train: Forlì or Cesena station, with bus connections to Forlimpopoli. On parade days, the historic center is closed to traffic.
Contacts
Email: [email protected] — Tel. +39 0541 825161 (market info). Updates on the official website and social media channels Facebook and Instagram @Segavecchia2026.
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Where does it take place — Segavecchia
Piazza A. Fratti e centro storico
Piazza A. Fratti, 8, 47034 Forlimpopoli