Agliana Children's Carnival

The Agliana Children's Carnival

In the San Michele district of Agliana (Pistoia province, Tuscany), the Agliana Children's Carnival is an event that has marked the community's winter for decades. It features a parade of allegorical floats entirely handmade by volunteers, designed primarily for children but capable of involving entire families who flock here from the surrounding Pistoia plains.

A tradition born in 1978

The event has its roots in 1978, when a group of local school parents decided to create a carnival dedicated to children. Since then, the festival has never stopped, becoming a symbol of the San Michele district's identity. It is organized by the San Michele Parish with the patronage of the Municipality of Agliana: parish volunteers design and build the floats, supported by local businesses and shopkeepers.

The allegorical floats

Each edition features a handful of colorful floats blending fantasy, cartoons, and current events. By tradition, the parade is always opened by the King Carnival float, followed by creations inspired by children's favorite characters and floats designed to convey a message. In recent years, subjects have ranged from classic Japanese animation to the most popular series for young people, alongside floats designed by local elementary school students.

The route in the heart of San Michele

The parade winds through the streets of the district, including Piazza Don Ferruccio Bianchi, Via Casello, Via del Calice, and the Paolo Guarducci Car Park, the heart of the festivities. For the occasion, the Municipality closes the streets to traffic, transforming the center of San Michele into a large, child-friendly pedestrian area. Admission is free; for the safety of the youngest participants, the use of foam spray cans is strictly prohibited during the event.

An event for the entire Pistoia plain

More than just a tourist attraction, the Agliana Children's Carnival is an authentic village festival, built from the ground up and carried forward with passion by generations of volunteers. For those visiting Tuscany away from the major circuits, it is an opportunity to experience a genuine popular carnival where the stars are the children, the masks, and the handmade floats.