Paperino Carnival

The historic street carnival of Prato

The Paperino Carnival is one of the most cherished popular events in the Municipality of Prato, Tuscany. Held every February in the village of Paperino, on the southern outskirts of the city, it fills the streets and squares with parades, music, and color. Since its inception in 1977, it has become a deeply rooted tradition in the Prato carnival scene, attracting families and visitors from across the province.

A community-driven celebration

The hallmark of this carnival is its authentic village spirit: no large-scale productions, but rather the collective work of volunteers, local associations, and community workshops. The allegorical floats and costumes are crafted in local workshops, which serve as hubs for social connection, creativity, and imagination. To ensure the event's continuity, the Associazione Carnevale di Paperino was established, led by Giacomo Guasti, who currently oversees the organization of the event.

Floats, masks, and bands

The parades wind through the streets of the village, showcasing allegorical floats, hundreds of costumes created by local workshops, street bands, folk groups, and musical entertainment. The event also features thematic floats inspired by current events, cinema, and pop culture, often created in collaboration with local schools, such as the Liceo Artistico Brunelleschi. It is a festival designed for all ages, with a day dedicated entirely to children on Shrove Tuesday.

The return of the floats in 2026

The 2026 edition, the 49th in its history, was a milestone for Paperino: after a six-year absence—due in part to the difficulty of finding suitable construction spaces—the allegorical floats, the heart of the village's carnival tradition, returned to the streets. This comeback was met with great enthusiasm by the community, restoring the Paperino Carnival to its most complete and spectacular format.

A family-friendly event

Free and held outdoors, the Paperino Carnival is the perfect opportunity to experience the carnival season in an authentic way, far from the major tourist crowds and immersed in the atmosphere of a village rallying around its most beloved festival. Amidst confetti, music, and masks, the village of Paperino, located in the Municipality and Province of Prato, offers a taste of the most popular and participatory Tuscan carnival traditions.