Porcari Carnival

The historic Carnival of Porcari

The Porcari Carnival is one of the most beloved events in the Piana di Lucca: a celebration that has been lighting up the center of Porcari (Province of Lucca, Tuscany) for nearly a century with the colors, confetti, and joy of Carnival. Originally born as a friendly rivalry between the town's ancient districts, the event has grown into a popular tradition that draws over 1,500 people to Piazza Felice Orsi every Sunday.

Five Sundays of celebration in Piazza Felice Orsi

The heart of the event is the parade of allegorical floats, built with care and passion by the volunteers of the Happy Porcari association. Every Sunday, the square fills with live music, dancing, confetti, and costumes, as the floats parade through the crowd, offering a show suitable for families of all ages. Among the most famous floats is the Porcarese Volante, one of the very few structures in Italy designed to be accessible to children with motor disabilities, a symbol of the festival's inclusive spirit.

Entertainment, food, and fun for everyone

In addition to the parades, the Porcari Carnival offers rides, trampolines, face painting, balloon artists, and plenty of entertainment dedicated to the little ones. There is no shortage of food stalls with typical seasonal specialties: hot bomboloni (filled doughnuts), sweets, crêpes, and cotton candy accompany the entire day of festivities. The soundtrack is provided by DJs, local bands, and young local musicians.

A tradition to support

The Porcari Carnival is much more than a party: it is an essential part of the identity of the Porcari community and the entire Province of Lucca. The event is entirely free and concludes each year with the highly anticipated Carnival raffle, which offers significant prizes. An event that unites generations and remains an unmissable appointment in the Tuscan Carnival calendar.