PRESS RELEASE (25/1/2016)
Loano returns to host the largest carnival in Liguria. The floats of the CarnevaLöa, after a five-year absence, will parade again in the beautiful setting of the Loano Waterfront. Volunteers from the “Old Loano” Association have already been hard at work for months preparing for the big event of the Loano winter season.
“Loano returns to be the carnival capital of Liguria. - Say the mayor Luigi Pignocca and the Councillor for Tourism, Culture and Sports. Remo Zaccaria - The history and tradition of more than 100 years is renewed this year by bringing the long-awaited parade of floats back to the waterfront. This is an important event for our city that enriches the winter tourist offer, attracting numerous guests. We thank the many volunteers of the Old Loano Association, who have been tenaciously bringing this event to life for 25 years. And although the strong point for many years has been the presence of the floats, in the last five years, the organizers have strengthened the friendly relationship with carnival delegations from neighboring Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia Romagna and Aosta Valley. So much so that the 2015 edition saw at Loano, as many as 40 delegations.”
Saturday, January 30 will open the celebration of the’2016 edition of Carnevalöa and up to February 28 the city will be the focus of a rich program of initiatives.
Masquerade processions, parades of floats and street parties for children: these are the events organized by the’Old Loano Association with contributions from the’Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the City of Loano.
The Old Loano Association," explains the association's president. Santino Puleo - is pleased to celebrate its 25th year in 2016 with the grand return of the float parade. Our association has proven over the years to grow and bring this event to the top ranks of Italian Carnivals, and to organize many outstanding and entertaining events. A final success is the recognition obtained by the “Ligurian Council” as an association that for many years has been pursuing the goal of maintaining and disseminating the culture and traditions of our territories.”
To inaugurate the Carnevalöa, will be the 30 January, the ceremony of handing over the keys to the city a “Beciancìn” (official mask of the Carnevalöa) and the Grand Parade of Masks. More than 40 Carnival delegations from all over Italy.
The meeting and start of the parade will be in Italy Square. At 3 p.m., after the presentation of the masks and participating groups, the ceremony of handing over the keys to the city by Mayor will be held Luigi Pignocca. “U beciancin” will be accompanied by “Puè Pepin” (King of the Loano carnival) and by Captain Fracassa, Ligurian mask of the Italian commedia dell'arte.
At 4 p.m. parade is announced, which will run through the streets of downtown. The festival will close at 6 p.m. in Italy Square.
The Loano carnival will continue with two afternoons dedicated to children: from hours 15.00, the February 7 in Italy Square with music, entertainment and carnival sweets, and the February 14 in Place Massena With the traditional piñata.
I carts made by carnival artisans will parade the February 21 and 28.
Sunday, February 21, to the 3 p.m., on the waterfront of Loano will take place the Village Palio. The carnival competition will involve six floats representing the villages of Loano. Parading will be Kung fu panda (Borgo di dentro), Buio Pesto with Captain Basil (Maina de Loa), Star Wars (I Meceti), The Minions (I Mazzocchi), Dragon Trainer, Masha and the Bear (Piazza Rocca), and Arlo (Prigliani). The Dogliani folk music ensemble will accompany the masked groups.
Sunday, February 28 will close the carnival festival with the Palio Dei Comuni. The carnival competition between municipalities, which will kick off at the 3 p.m., will see the participation of the municipalities of Bardino Vecchio (Ghostbusters), Borghetto S. Spirito (Jeeg Robot d'acciaio), Villanova d'Albenga (to be defined), Albenga (“Liguria mon Amour della Riviera in Tour”) with the band “Mia moglie mi manda a funk,” Varazze (to be defined), Andora (to be defined), Loano ( Torre dell'Orologio with the three Loano masks Beciancin, Pue Pepin and Capitan Fracassa). Also parading will be the CarnevaLoa Bimbi float by Loano's Rossello Schools Institute (the Tree of Life). The Cau de Noi folk music ensemble will open the parade.
The Loano carnival has more than 100 years of history, and over time various associations have taken turns in keeping this great tradition alive, and since 1992 the “Old Loano” Association with “master artist” Mario Cenere, “master craftsman” Carlo Rua and Prof. Fulvio Filidei has taken up the legacy.
In 25 years, the association has restored the Loano carnival to its great glory, coming to be recognized as the “largest carnival in Liguria” for the number of floats. Since last year, moreover, the Lovato carnival can count a mask from the Italian commedia dell'arte, Capitan Fracassa, who together with Puè Pepin, King of the Lovato carnival since 1950 and U Beciancin, a goliardic character from the early 1900s who is the official mask, make up a carnival trio now known throughout Italy.
The passion that has long animated the Old Loano Association, for the historical and cultural value of the tradition of masks, in agreement with other national associations, has helped to promote and establish the first “Register of Italian Masks” where all the Italian commedia dell'arte masks and folkloric characters of the various regional realities will be registered. This work will make it possible to bring the various local realities closer together with research and historical studies, helping to make carnival known not only as entertainment but also as a historical, traditional, cultural and tourist resource.
Loano, along with Parma, Turin, Vercelli, Castelnuovo Don Bosco (Asti), Busca (Cuneo), Verona, Aosta, Acerra (Naples), Catanzaro, Polignano a Mare (Bari), and Sciacca (Agrigento) is a co-founder of the “National Coordination Center of Italian Masks”.
List of masks that will participate in the 2016 edition “CarnevaLoa 2016”
NATIONAL MASKS
- Bologna: Balanzone
- Hundred:Italy and the Charlot
- Bergamo: Bergamasque Harlequin
- Modena: Sandrone, Pulonia and Sgorghiguelo.
- Parma: Al Dsèvod
- Verona: Dumpling Daddy
- Turin: Gianduja
- Vercelli: the Bicciolano and the Bela Majin
- Viareggio: Burlamacco
PIEDMONTESE MASKS
- Alba: Splarin, Masacrin-Foundation Ferrero
- Alpignano Borgo Talle: Abbà, Abbaina, Madama Talea, Monsieur Taja Branc
- Andezeno: Bela Cardera and Bel Sciulè
- Bertolla: Lavandera and Lavandè
- Brusasco: the Fire Queen
- Busca: La bela Antilia and Buscaja
- Change: Madame Tumatica and Countess Bertone of Sanbuy
- Carmagnola: King Pepper and the beautiful Pouvronera
- Casalborgone: Count of CasalBorgone
- Castelnuovo don Bosco: Lords of Rivalba, Monsù Freisa and Madama Malvasia
- Chivasso: the Abba and the beautiful Tolera
- Chivasso: Marchesi Paleologi
- Coasse: lu Vey and la Vey
- Cossato: Sucot and Sucota
- Cuneo: Girometta and Gironi
- Moncalieri: La Lunetta
- Novara: King Biscuit-Regina Cunetta-Companion Lady
- Orbassano: Pulentè and Pulentera
- Orio Canavese: The Counts of Orio
- Pecetto Torinese: La bela Ceresera and Monsieur Grafion
- Reano: La Masca Munda and Diau Russ
- Revigliasco: Contessina Violetta and Nobles of the Castle
- Rivalta: Tuminè and Tuminera
- San Defendente of Tarantasca: King Squid and Queen Sepia
- San Sebastiano Po: Marina dal Port
- Sangano: Budinè and Budinera
- San Raffaele Cimena: Madama and Monsù Pelacurdin
- Santena: la bela Sparsera
- Santhià: Napoleonic General Staff
- Sciolze: Bastian Contrario and the beautiful Lidia
- Turin: la bela Rosina e a soa gent
- Turin: Highlander
- Troferello: Countess Vagnone
- Villadeati (Al): the Marchesa Arrigoni
- Villastellone: La bela Ranera and Martin Pescatore
LIGURIAN MASKS
- Albenga: King Artichoke and Princess Trumpet Squash
- Arnasco: U Liviu and the Tina
- Cairo Montenotte: Nuvarin der Castè and the Castellana
- Pieve di Teco: Bacì l'Inciastru
- Savona: King Chinotto and Court
- Varazze: Muminin a Pescèa, Meneghin u Treggia and u Scavena
- Loano: Beciancin, Puè Pepin and Captain Fracassa
