Spormaggiore Carnival

The Spormaggiore Carnival

The Spormaggiore Carnival is one of the most cherished folk festivals on the Paganella Plateau, in the heart of Val di Non. Every winter, the town's Piazza Fiera fills with costumes, colors, and music for a day dedicated to family fun and the entire community of Spormaggiore, in the province of Trento (Trentino-Alto Adige).

The historic Zusi group

The heart and soul of the festival is the Zusi group, which has been animating the Spormaggiore carnival for many years. In the days leading up to the event, the Zusi go from house to house collecting donations to fund the great feast in the square, a tradition that brings the whole town together. The organization is managed by the Carnival Committee, supported by the Pro Loco, the Alpine Group, the Fire Brigade, the Parish, AVIS, and the municipal administration.

A day in the square

For years, the program has followed a well-loved and time-tested structure:

• At noon, the Zusi serve their famous macaroni, cooked and distributed directly in the square;
• In the afternoon, registration opens for the children's costume parade, followed by the town's masked groups;
• Mid-afternoon features polenta with luganega sausages, prepared on-site;
• For the little ones, there is no shortage of music, comedy shows, soap bubbles, balloons, and popcorn.

Spormaggiore, the bear village

Spormaggiore is known as the bear village: a large part of its territory lies within the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park, and just a short walk from the center is the Wildlife Park, where you can observe brown bears, wolves, lynxes, and other Alpine animals. The local specialty is the tortel di patate (potato pancake), served with cured meats, cheese, beans, and sauerkraut. Attending the Carnival is therefore a perfect opportunity to discover an authentic village in Val di Non, blending folk tradition with nature.