The Bivona Carnival is a well-rooted tradition in the local area. Its origins, or at least the earliest recollections, date back to the 1950s. Initially, rather than allegorical scenes or mockery representations, it featured proper enactments of religious themes, classical mythology, or cult films such as “Quo Vadis?” Over time, following various transformations and evolutions, the 1980s saw the arrival of the classic carnival format with papier-mâché floats and supporting masked groups.

The local population is heavily involved in creating allegorical floats, masked groups, and related theme songs, all interconnected. As with other identity-defining events, the Carnival offers an opportunity for involvement and acts as a forge for initiatives focused on socialization and the enhancement of the territory. Generally, younger people take the lead in organizing, but older individuals are often involved, especially when they can contribute creatively or with their craftsmanship. This is crucial since float construction requires a high level of artisanal skill.

It can be said that Bivona’s Carnival was among the most renowned in the Agrigento area, second only to Sciacca’s. Unfortunately, the celebration suffers from the constant depopulation of the region, leading to a significant decline.

 

This element has been included in the Register of Intangible Heritage of local interest of the Municipality of Bivona, as part of Intervention 6 “Activation of the Observatory on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Territory through the application of the REIL methodology – Register of Intangible Heritage of Local Interest”, within the “ Metasicani effetto farfalla” project, funded by the NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), Mission: Digitalisation, innovation, competitiveness, culture and tourism, Component: Tourism and culture 4.0, Investment 2.1 “Attractiveness of villages.” CUP: J79I22000180006.