February 17, 2026 14:30
Strada Rezia is filled with masks, colours and joy with the big Carnival parade, accompanied by music, dancing and delicacies to enjoy as a snack
Joy, jokes, dancing and plenty of treats: in Val di Fassa, the last day of Carnival lights up the town squares. It has always been one of the most eagerly awaited moments of the year, when even adults became children again, sharing pranks and witty jokes under the anonymity of the "faceres" - wooden masks of extraordinary craftsmanship, carved by the master artisans of the valley. For young people, this period often marked the beginning of a new chapter in life: between February and March, many couples chose to get married. Carnival, however, was also a rite of passage - a farewell to winter and a wish for the rebirth of spring.
Today, that same spirit lives on in the parades and festivities of Campitello, Vigo and Moena, blending the irony of the past with the energy of the present.
In Vigo, the celebrations kick off at 2.30 p.m. with the Carnival parade. Leading the procession are the traditional Ladin masks - "Bufon", "Laché" and "Marascons" - already featured on Sunday in Campitello. Their appearance symbolically brings the festive season to a close, before the beginning of Lent. Each year, a different theme provides the common thread and sparks the creativity of the entire community. The allegorical floats are built by sports, cultural and volunteer associations, the conscripts of Sèn Jan (the young people who will turn 18 in 2026), as well as children from nursery and primary schools. Once the theme is chosen, preparations begin immediately after Epiphany: afternoons and evenings are spent in workshops and sheds, cutting, painting, testing and refining every detail, all with one goal - to be ready for Shrove Tuesday.
Framed by cheering crowds, the parade makes its way along Strada Rezia to Piaz J.B. Massar, where the scents of tradition tempt visitors with "fortaie", apple fritters and sausage sandwiches. And the fun doesn't end with the parade: the celebration continues into the evening in Piaz de Vich, with the infectious beats of DJ Fufu!
That's not all. Thanks to the collaboration with the Ladin Museum of Fassa, a truly special mask returns to the streets: "Jandeluvio", presented last year exclusively at the Campitello parade. He is a character from the Fassa Carnival who is "exaggerated" by nature - a giant with an enormous head, the protagonist of grotesque and spectacular tales. Traditionally, Jandeluvio is led in chains and accompanied by his guardians, who try to keep him under control and prevent him from causing trouble among the crowd. Even his name says a lot: Jan (Giovanni) + deluvio (flood), an ironic way of describing an overwhelming and unconventional character.
