Valle dei Laghi Grand Carnival (Covelo stop)

The traveling Carnival of the Valle dei Laghi

The Valle dei Laghi Grand Carnival is one of the most deeply rooted winter events in western Trentino. It is not a single festival, but a traveling carnival that, for nearly a month, visits nineteen villages in the valley with a packed calendar of events on weekends and holidays. Each location serves its own specialty, turning the Carnival into a gastronomic journey through the squares of the Valle dei Laghi, promoted by the Vallelaghi Tourist Consortium.

The Covelo stop, in Cimone

Among the towns involved is Covelo, the main village of the Municipality of Cimone, in the province of Trento. Here, events are traditionally held in the public park, where traditional specialties are served at noon: tripe soup, canederli dumplings, and wine on the first weekend, followed by macaroni with meat sauce accompanied by the inevitable mulled wine. It is a simple and genuine street festival, designed to bring the community and visitors together around the table, amidst colorful masks and entertainment.

A community carnival

The Valle dei Laghi Grand Carnival thrives on the work of the local Pro Loco associations, groups, and volunteers from each village. Masked parades, floats, live music, and games for children accompany the gastronomic aspect, which remains the heart of the event: gnocchi, bigoi pasta, penne, macaroni, tripe, and polenta vary from village to village, as do the hot drinks served to warm up on winter days.

Where it is located

The Valle dei Laghi connects Trento to Lake Garda, between the lakes of Toblino, Cavedine, and Santa Massenza. Cimone, with its village of Covelo, rises on the slope overlooking the Adige valley, in an area of vineyards and forests typical of Trentino-Alto Adige. Participation in the Carnival stages is free: you only pay for what you consume at the food stalls.