ANCIENT CARNIVAL BALON – 4 FEBRUARY 2024
The Carnival in Turin is at the BALON!!
As per tradition, this year too the historic antique and vintage market will host numerous historical re-enactment groups, who with their performances and the final parade will make spectators travel through time in a crescendo of emotions: from ancient Rome to the Middle Ages, from the eighteenth-century courts to the Napoleonic wars… all in the streets of one of the most beautiful villages of the Savoy capital.
La Rusnenta, the historic mask of Balon, cannot be missing, accompanied by Gianduja and Giacometta who together with a jury of historians and journalists will decide at the end of the day which will be the winning group of this edition.
Our special partners in the organization of this fantastic event are the Famija Turinèisa, the Friends of the Pietro Micca Museum Association, Radio GRP which will be present in the courtyard of the mallet from which it will make numerous live connections.
Inside the courtyard of the mallet there will also be “StaGulp”, a market exhibition linked to the world of comics and anime.
Also not to be missed is the gathering of historic Fiat Topolinos.
🏃🏻🏃🏻🏃🏻 For the more curious, in search of stories and places, we recommend the guided tour through the streets of Balon in the company of Torino Piemonte Storia.
Meeting at 10.30 am in front of the SERMIG, reservations required (Federico 3394314369).
🤳📸 After the great success of last year, the Carnival PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTEST arrives at its second edition! We advise all photographers, professionals or enthusiasts, not to make commitments and to follow us while waiting for further information.
THE PROGRAM
THURSDAY 1 February 2024
5.00 pm DISTRICT 7
Investiture of the Rusnenta – the mask of Balon – by Gianduja and Giacometta (famija turineisa). The President of the 7th District, Luca Deri, and the council preside
SATURDAY 3 February 2024
11.15 am BALON market in front of SERMIG – PARADE
La Rusnenta together with Gianduja and Giacometta, accompanied by the Municipal Police Band and the Famija Turineisa, with a delegation from the Balon Traders Association – parade along the streets of the Balon market and Porta Palazzo towards the Town Hall of the City of Turin. Historic rite of handing over the keys to the city by the administration.
Sunday 4 February 2024
9.30am OPENING of the Balon Extraordinary Market
Antiques, Vintage, collecting and craftsmanship along the streets of the village, while the “STRAGULP” cultural event will be hosted inside the Cortile del Maglio, focused on the history of comics and its evolution over time.
11.00 am PRE-SHOW – in front of Sermig
Gianduja, Giacometta and Rusnenta will parade through the streets of Balon (via Borgo Dora, Via Lanino, Via Cottolengo and Via Mameli) with the children of Cottolengo and Serming. The whole group will meet on the central stage (central widening of Via Borgo Dora) where the masks will be presented to the village.
From 11.30am to 3.00pm PERFORMANCES by Historical Reenactment Groups.
The historical reenactment groups will compete for the “best performance” award and will perform in different points of the market. We will find shows of dance, wrestling, fencing, military maneuvers, flag-waving etc.
3.30pm PARADE of the Historical Reenactment Groups Competition
All the historical re-enactment groups will gather inside the Cortile del Maglio and line up for the final parade. Starting from Sermig – Arsenale della Pace, going up Via Borgo Dora, Via Lanino, Via Cottolengo and Via Mameli. Halfway through (in front of the central stage) they will be introduced one by one by the speaker of the event, Marina Garau, with the song they chose as the background. Also on the central stage, the Jury will evaluate all the participating groups from various aspects: from costume design to bearing. At the end of the route from Via Mameli, the entire cordon of groups will gather under the central stage to witness the announcement of the winners.
5.00 pm AWARDS CEREMONY
The jury, from the central stage, will first decide the winner for the best performance and immediately afterwards the first prize of the 2024 edition of the historical re-enactment group competition will be awarded.
PERFORMANCES
STAGE – V. Borgo Dora (central clearing)
11.30 am – PIETRO MICCA
12.00 am – NOBILTA’ SABAUDA
12.30 am – TRADIZIONI SABAUDE
at 1.00 pm at 2.00 pm UNDERSTAGE PARADE OF AUTO FIAT TOPOLINO
2.00 pm – BALASTORIE
2.30 pm – OKELUM
3.00 pm – CORTE VENARIA
3.30 pm – OCCELLI
3.30 PM – FINAL PARADE
COLUMNATION AND FINAL PARADE (V. BORGO DORA – CLIMB Cortile del Maglio)
The historical groups will perform in the following order:
PIETRO MICCA
BERSAGLIERI LA MARMORA
ASS. NAZ. SANITA’ MILITARE
OKELUM
BALASTORIE
NOBILTA’ SABAUDA
OCCELLI
TRADIZIONI SABAUDE
LA CORTE DI VENARIA REALE
