Zimone Carnival

The Zimone Carnival: A community celebration in the Biella region

In Zimone, a small village of just over four hundred inhabitants nestled on the Serra moraine in the Province of Biella (Piedmont), the Carnival is not a parade of floats, but something more intimate and deep-rooted: it is the moment when the entire village gathers around the table to honor its traditions. The festival is organized by the Pro Loco Zimone, which has been preserving and renewing this event for years, taking place in the heart of the village within the parish courtyard.

The bean stew, the heart of the tradition

The central ritual of the Zimone Carnival is the fagiolata (bean stew), a symbolic dish of the Biella carnival tradition. As in many villages in the Biella area, the stew is cooked in large cauldrons and distributed to the public after a blessing in the parish courtyard until supplies run out. It is an act of sharing rooted in the rural and mountain culture of these valleys, where the Carnival once represented a brief pause of joy and serenity in the hard rhythm of field and mountain labor.

The community dinner

Alongside the bean stew, the Zimone Carnival also features a community dinner serving polenta and cod, another great classic of Piedmontese carnival cuisine, particularly in the Canavese and Biella areas. It is an opportunity to gather indoors, enjoy each other's company, and extend the festivities beyond the day of the bean stew.

An authentically Biellese Carnival

The Zimone Carnival is part of the rich carnival tradition of the Biella region, where every village has its own bean stew and its own way of experiencing the festival. For those seeking the Italy of village feasts, far from major tourist events, Zimone offers a genuine experience: the taste of a meal cooked together, a sense of belonging to a community, and the continuity of a ritual passed down from generation to generation. The Province of Biella, with its morainic hills, small lakes, and villages, provides the backdrop for a simple yet deeply identity-driven festival.

Who is it for?

• For families and those looking for a popular, authentic festival
• For fans of Piedmontese culinary traditions (bean stew, polenta and cod)
• For those who want to discover the Biella region off the beaten tourist path, in a small village on the Serra