Vercelli Carnival Bean Feast in Salasco

A bean feast that kicks off the Salasco Carnival

In the town of Salasco, in the Province of Vercelli (Piedmont), Carnival has a distinct flavor: that of beans slow-cooked and served hot to the local community. The Vercelli Carnival Bean Feast in Salasco is one of those village festivals where folk gastronomy and carnival tradition blend into a single festive morning. In a landscape defined by rice paddies and the rustic cuisine of the Bassa Vercellese, the bean cauldron is a ritual that draws residents and visitors alike to the town square.

Part of the Vercelli Charity Carnival

The Salasco event is not an isolated affair; it is a stop on the broader Vercelli Charity Carnival, organized by the Comitato Manifestazioni Vercellesi. The Vercelli Carnival revolves around its historic masks, Bicciolano and Bèla Majin, and during the festive weeks, it brings parade floats, processions, and convivial moments to various towns across the plains, from Salasco to Bianzè, from Tricerro to Borgo Vercelli, and finally to the center of Vercelli. The charitable aspect is central to the event's identity: the proceeds and the volunteers' efforts are dedicated to supporting the most vulnerable members of the community.

What is the 'fagiolata'?

The 'fagiolata' is the free distribution of a hearty bean dish, prepared in large quantities and offered to anyone who shows up with their own plate or bowl. In the Vercelli tradition, it is linked to the humble, generous cooking of the rice-growing countryside, where beans were a staple food. During Carnival, it becomes a symbol of sharing: people line up, chat, and warm up with a hot meal in the heart of the Piedmontese winter.

A tradition that repeats every year

The Salasco bean feast takes place in the early morning, usually around 9:30 AM, and is part of a circuit that includes the nearby town of Bianzè on the same day with a similar ceremony. In the afternoon, attention shifts to Vercelli, where the parade floats march. This is how the small village of Salasco becomes a full-fledged part of the Vercelli Province Carnival calendar.

The atmosphere

Those arriving in Salasco on the morning of the bean feast find a familiar and welcoming atmosphere: families, groups of friends, children in costumes, and the Committee volunteers busy around the large pots. It is the Piedmontese village Carnival in its most authentic form, far from commercial spectacle and close to the people.