Solo per una Notte – Festival of Art, Creativity and the Ephemeral
A night of ephemeral art along the Lido di Camaiore seafront
About Solo per una Notte
A night of ephemeral art in Versilia
Once a year, an unmissable event transforms the Lungomare Europa in Lido di Camaiore into an open-air theater stretching over two kilometers: it is Solo per una Notte, the Festival of Art, Creativity and the Ephemeral. Promoted by the Municipality of Camaiore, in the heart of the Tuscan Versilia, the event showcases for one night only things that are by definition destined to vanish: spontaneous creations, sawdust carpets, roaming performances, and installations that live only for the span of a night.
The ephemeral as a philosophy
The festival is built around a precise idea: the beauty of what does not last. Artists create works live in front of the audience, designed to be admired just once. It is an invitation to pause, observe, and live in the present, far from the logic of souvenirs and snapshots to keep. Under the artistic direction of Elodie Lebigre, the promenade fills with dancers, acrobats, jugglers, marching bands, street actors, musicians, illustrators, and live painting masters.
What to find along the promenade
Throughout the evening, the seafront becomes a path to explore on foot, moving from one square to another, featuring:
- Street theater and contemporary circus: aerial dance, juggling, tightrope walking, fire shows, and clowning.
- Artistic sawdust carpets, created by Tuscan and Italian carpet-makers and flower-festival artists, with the collaboration of international delegations.
- Live music: from opera to folk, from roaming street bands to batucada.
- Workshops for adults and children dedicated to flowers, reading, poetry, theater, papier-mâché, and upcycled objects.
- Masks from the Viareggio Carnival, bringing the color and papier-mâché of the Versilia tradition to the seafront.
A festival rooted in the territory
Solo per una Notte is a vibrant expression of Versilia's culture, a land that weaves together the sea, seaside tourism, and the great artistic tradition of the Viareggio Carnival. The collaboration with the Carnival Foundation and local associations turns every edition into a dialogue between contemporary art and popular heritage. Free and open to all, the festival has quickly become one of the most anticipated events of the early summer in Tuscany, drawing thousands of visitors to the Lido di Camaiore promenade.
Solo per una Notte — edition 2026
2026 Edition: In the name of Pinocchio
For its fourth edition on Saturday, June 13, 2026, Solo per una Notte paid tribute to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Carlo Collodi, the father of Pinocchio. The Lungomare Europa in Lido di Camaiore transformed into a grand, widespread narrative, with over 150 artists distributed across four thematic areas inspired by the characters of The Adventures of Pinocchio. The artistic direction was curated by Elodie Lebigre, with the patronage of the Tuscany Region and the Carlo Collodi National Foundation.
Programme Solo per una Notte 2026
Saturday, June 13, 2026 — from 6:00 PM until late at night
The route wound along the Lungomare Europa, from Piazza Lemmetti to Piazza Castracani, divided into four thematic areas inspired by Pinocchio:
- Mastro Ciliegia Area (from the Pier to the border with Viareggio): theater, puppets, exhibitions, and creative workshops; aerial dance, juggling, and fire shows; exhibition of illustrated editions of "The Adventures of Pinocchio" from the Carlo Collodi National Foundation; Viareggio Carnival masks.
- Talking Cricket Area (Pier area): monumental artistic carpet dedicated to the 200 years of Collodi, created by Italian associations and international delegations (Spain and Germany); theater workshops, staged readings, and circus shows; Carlo Collodi National Foundation stand.
- Fox and Cat Area (from the Pier to the Arlecchino area): circus arts, puppet and printing workshops, tightrope walking, clowns, fusion dance, body art, and face painting; masks from the Viareggio Carnival Museum.
- Mangiafuoco Area (Piazza Principe Umberto): the "Gran Casinò – Rien ne va plus" float from the Carnival Company with the main show; live painting stations and interactive photo booth.
Roaming performances: the Pedrasamba batucada and stilt walkers with "Pinocchio's Parade – Lies have long legs".
Visual arts and live painting: Versilia artist Elisa Tamburrini (known as "Pelle D'oca", Tambúca Cultural Association) created live "CRI CRI – Stimulate the Cricket!", a feminine reinterpretation of the Talking Cricket, and the street scenography "Postcard from Collodi" together with Barbara Cairo LaBeba and Eliana Samaritani; analog photography performance with on-site development and instant ink portraits.
Carneval Party: from 10:30 PM in Piazza Principe Umberto, with a concert by Luca Bassanese.
Highlights Solo per una Notte 2026
Prices Solo per una Notte 2026
Practical information — Solo per una Notte
Location
Lungomare Europa, Lido di Camaiore (Municipality of Camaiore, Lucca province), along a two-kilometer stretch of promenade between Piazza Lemmetti and Piazza Castracani.
How to get there
By car: take the Versilia exit on the A11/A12 motorway, then follow signs for Lido di Camaiore. By train: Camaiore-Lido-Capezzano station or Viareggio station, both connected to the seafront. We recommend parking in nearby areas and reaching the promenade on foot.
Hours and admission
The event runs from 6:00 PM until late at night. Admission is free; performances and workshops are spread throughout the promenade.
Tips
Wear comfortable shoes: the festival is roaming and best experienced on foot. Bring the kids—there are workshops and shows designed specifically for them.
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Where does it take place — Solo per una Notte
Lungomare Europa, Lido di Camaiore
Lungomare Europa, 55041 Camaiore