Senise Carnival

A young and distinctive carnival

Recognized by the Municipality as an identity event of the territory, the Senise Carnival is a recent but rapidly growing festival, capable of uniting the community of Senise, in the heart of the Pollino in the Province of Potenza. The town's streets come alive with allegorical floats, masked groups, entertainment, and music, in a day designed for families and children but experienced by the entire village.

The Crusco Pepper, king of the festival

What makes this carnival unique is its link with the symbolic product of the town: the Senise Pepper IGP, the famous "crusco". Theme of the festival and ingredient of its specialties, the crusco pepper also becomes the protagonist at the table: during the event, the chiculicchie with crusco pepper, one of the historic foods linked to the Senise carnival, are distributed free of charge, accompanied by local red wine, cotton candy, and chocolate marshmallows for the little ones.

Parades, music, and community

The day is divided between the morning parade, with mascots and baby dance, and the afternoon one along the historic centre, up to the evening concert that closes the festival. It is an event built on a sense of community and the rediscovery of the town's gastronomic traditions, in which the chiculicchia becomes a symbol of sharing and collective memory.

Senise and its crusco

Overlooking the Monte Cotugno reservoir and the Sinni river, Senise is the recognized capital of the crusco pepper, a Protected Geographical Indication product exported throughout Italy. The carnival is one of the occasions when this link between the town and the product is celebrated in a festive, popular, and collective way.