Carnevale a Canelli
Canelli's carnival afternoon for children and families in February: costumes, face painting, sweets from the Pro Loco and, in 2026, a 'Carnevale sul Ghiaccio' on a skating rink in Piazza Gancia.
Why it's special
Canelli has its own carnival mask, Blincin, a pleasure-loving local said to have been chased by a jealous husband at carnival time, tried and condemned in the square. Some years the afternoon ends with the trial of Blincin and the burning of his effigy, the old Canelli way of sending carnival off before Lent.
Programme · 2026
'Carnevale sul Ghiaccio', organised by the Comitato Palio Città di Canelli in Piazza Gancia.
- It's a free afternoon aimed at local children, so come in costume.
- The organiser changes (the Comitato Palio in 2026, the Pedale Canellese cycling club in 2022, the traders' association in 2013), so look for the announcement in the local press (ATNews, L'Ancora, La Nuova Provincia) in the first days of February.
Carnival in Canelli is a small, home-made affair for the town's children rather than a parade of floats. Different groups have taken it on over the years. In 2013 the shopkeepers' association brought it back after a long pause, with inflatables and magic shows in Piazza Cavour. In 2022 the Pedale Canellese cycling club held a costume-and-decorated-bike party at the sports hall. In 2026 the Comitato Palio turned Piazza Gancia into a Carnevale sul Ghiaccio around a skating rink, with drummers, face painting and the Pro Loco's sweets.
What makes it Canelli's own is Blincin, the town's carnival character. The story goes that he was a real man about town who, one carnival, was caught courting another man's wife, chased down by the jealous husband and tried in the public square. Some years the afternoon ends at dusk with a mock trial of Blincin and the burning of his effigy, carnival going up in smoke before Lent.
The date and format are announced each year in early February. Past editions are in the table above.
Past editions
| Year | Dates | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 February 2026 | 'Carnevale sul Ghiaccio', organised by the Comitato Palio Città di Canelli in Piazza Gancia. Afternoon – Opening by the 'Principesse' of the Associazione Colline 50 and the 'Masche' of the Comitato Palio, led by the Tamburi Canelli drummers On the ice – Figure-skating display by Camilla Montaldo; the skating rink stayed open into the evening, at the request of the Pedale Canellese For children – Face painting by the Canelli Crew, inflatable slides, sweets and drinks from the Pro Loco Città di Canelli |
| 2022 | 20 February 2022 | Organised by the Pedale Canellese at the mountain-bike area of the Palazzo dello Sport. Sun 20 Feb, from 14:30 – Children in costume or on bikes 'dressed' for carnival, with prizes for the best costume and the most original bike Afternoon – Trial of Blincin and the burning of his effigy |
| 2013 | 12 February 2013 (Shrove Tuesday) | Carnival revived after years of silence by the new Associazione Commercianti Canellesi with the Comune, the Pro Loco Antico Borgo di Villanuova and the Gruppo Storico Militare dell'Assedio. Tue 12 Feb, from 14:30 – Inflatables, a western village, giant cartoon characters, magic shows, candyfloss and the Pro Loco's bugie and sweet fritters in Piazza Cavour, Via XX Settembre and Piazza Aosta Dusk – Trial of Blincin and the burning of his effigy in the main square |