Formigine Carnival of the Kids
The most anticipated masked parade in the Modenese area, featuring allegorical floats, traditional masks, and tastings in the historic center.
About Formigine Carnival of the Kids
A Carnival That Is a Community Heritage
The Formigine Carnival of the Kids is one of the most deeply rooted traditions of the Emilia-Romagna carnival scene. Organized by the Municipality of Formigine, in the province of Modena, together with the Association for the Carnival of the Kids, it is a festival entirely built from the ground up: it is the local hamlets that create the allegorical floats and masked groups each year, in a collaborative effort involving hundreds of people, culminating in the grand masked parade in the historic center.
The Floats, the Masks, and the Parade
The heart of the event is the masked parade: a colorful procession of allegorical floats, costumed groups, marching bands, and folklore groups that winds through the streets of the center, concluding in Piazza Calcagnini, at the foot of the medieval castle. The traditional masks of the Modenese area are a must: the Pavironica Family and the Zingaraja, accompanied by the King and Queen of the Carnival. Radio Bruno's La Strana Coppia and the marching band also liven up the days, while the Castle of Formigine opens its halls with themed workshops and tours for children.
The Gastronomic Tradition
Carnival in Formigine also means food. Along the parade route and in Piazza Calcagnini, you'll find the typical tastings that are part of the festival's ritual: cod fritters, cherseinta (the Modenese fried dumplings), gramigna with sausage, polenta, pasta with ragù, and French fries. On Fat Tuesday, a free distribution of cherseinta kicks off the morning.
For Families and Children
As the name suggests, this is a carnival designed for kids: on the outskirts of the center, in Viale Olimpiadi, a large amusement park is set up and open for several weeks, while the library and castle offer storytelling, creative workshops, and animated tours for the little ones. Admission to all events is free.
When and Where
The event takes place between February and early March, coinciding with the carnival season. The highlights are the two main parades, usually on Sunday and Fat Tuesday, in the afternoon. In case of bad weather, the masked parades are postponed to the following Sunday. Everything is concentrated in the historic center of Formigine, a town in the Modenese Ceramic District, easily accessible from the Via Emilia and from Modena.
Formigine Carnival of the Kids — edition 2026
68th Edition — February 12-17, 2026
The 2026 edition of the Formigine Carnival of the Kids was spread over several days, with the two main parades on Sunday, February 15, and Tuesday, February 17. The formula combining the masked parade of allegorical floats, typical tastings in Piazza Calcagnini, and activities for children at the Castle was confirmed.
Admission to all events was free. In case of bad weather, the masked parades of February 15 and 17 were scheduled to be postponed to Sunday, February 22.
Programme Formigine Carnival of the Kids 2026
Thursday, February 12 — Piazza Calcagnini
- 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM — Tastings: cod fritters, cherseinta, fries
- 12:00 PM — Gramigna with sausage
- 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM — Musical entertainment (DJ Ans) and children's entertainment (Gebis)
- 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM — "Color Weaves," creative workshop at the Castle (ages 5-10, booking recommended)
Friday, February 13 — Matilda Library
- 5:00 PM — "At Carnival, Every Story Counts," storytelling for children aged 4-8 (booking required)
Saturday, February 14 — Castle of Formigine
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM — Museum open
- 4:00 PM — "What Happened to Marco Pio?", animated tour and workshop (booking required)
Sunday, February 15 — Historic Center and Castle
- From 9:00 AM — Fair on Via San Francesco
- From 10:00 AM — Typical tastings
- From 11:00 AM — Gypsies' bivouac
- 2:00 PM — Masked Parade with the Pavironica Family, King and Queen of the Carnival, with Radio Bruno's La Strana Coppia and the marching band
- 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM — Musical entertainment (DJ Ans)
- 4:00 PM — Pavironica Family's speech
- Castle: museum open and "Little Masks at the Castle" workshop (ages 5-10)
Tuesday, February 17 — Piazza Calcagnini
- From 9:00 AM — Fair
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM — Free distribution of cherseinta
- 12:00 PM — Maccheroni with ragù
- 2:00 PM — Masked Parade with the King and Queen of the Carnival and Radio Bruno's La Strana Coppia
- 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM — Musical entertainment (DJ Ans)
- 4:00 PM — Speech by authorities
- 4:30 PM — Tastings
- 5:00 PM — Award ceremony, with the participation of I.I.S. Venturi of Modena
Parade route: Via Pio Donati, Via Zanfrognini, Via Fiume, Via Piave, Via Trento Trieste, Piazza Calcagnini, Via Forno Vecchio, Via Schedoni, Via Sassuolo.
Highlights Formigine Carnival of the Kids 2026
Prices Formigine Carnival of the Kids 2026
Practical information — Formigine Carnival of the Kids
How to Get Here
Formigine is located about 15 km southwest of Modena, in the Ceramic District. By car, take the A1 motorway exit Modena Sud, then follow the SS12 and SP467 towards Sassuolo. By train and bus, take local public transport from Modena station towards Formigine.
Admission and Hours
Free admission to all events. The main parades are held in the afternoon (from 2 PM). The amusement park in Viale Olimpiadi is open on weekdays from 3 PM to 8 PM and on weekends from 10 AM to 11 PM.
Information
Culture and Tourism Service of the Municipality of Formigine — tel. +39 059 416373 / +39 059 416368 — email [email protected]. Castle of Formigine: tel. +39 059 416145. Parade and weather info: +39 389 2556426.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Formigine Carnival of the Kids
Centro storico di Formigine — Piazza Calcagnini
Piazza Calcagnini, 41043 Formigine