Children's Carnival

The Children's Carnival of Montevarchi

In the heart of the Valdarno area near Arezzo, the Children's Carnival is one of the most beloved and long-standing festivals in Montevarchi, in the province of Arezzo, right in the heart of Tuscany. For over seventy years, the event has transformed the historic center into a giant playground, with allegorical floats, confetti, streamers, and costumes filling the squares and streets for over a month between February and March.

A tradition for the little ones

As the name suggests, the Montevarchi Carnival is specifically dedicated to children and families. The float parades are accompanied by the famous miniature train that travels through the center, stalls selling traditional cenci and brighelle pastries, and fairground rides set up in Piazza Varchi and Piazza Vittorio Veneto. It is a community festival in the most authentic sense, built every year through the voluntary work of numerous local associations.

Allegorical floats and artisanal mastery

The heart of the event remains the parade of allegorical floats, handcrafted by local committees and associations. Alongside the traditional Pinocchio float, the symbol of the Montevarchi Carnival, each edition features new creations inspired by fairy tales, music, and current events, the result of months of work in the committees' workshops.

Contests and side events

The program goes beyond just the parades. Historic highlights include the Drawing Contest for school students, the Pinocchio in Costume contest, the Golden Pinocchio singing competition, and the Children's Pentolaccia (piñata game) that closes the festivities. During the Drawing Contest, there is also a temporary post office with a dedicated philatelic cancellation, managed by the local Philatelic and Numismatic Circle.

A festival built by the community

The Children's Carnival is organized by the Municipality of Montevarchi together with numerous local associations: from the Carnival Committee to the Pro Loco, the B. Varchi Philatelic and Numismatic Circle, the G. Puccini Musical Corps, the Circolo Stanze Ulivieri, the Pestello Cooperative Society, and the Aurora Gymnastics Society. It is this network of volunteers that ensures the continuity of a tradition that spans generations every year.