Volano Children's Carnival

A historic carnival in the heart of the Vallagarina

The Volano Children's Carnival is one of the most celebrated and beloved carnival events in the Trentino region. It takes place every February in the municipality of Volano, a small town in the Vallagarina valley in the province of Trento, located on the left bank of the Adige river just a few kilometers north of Rovereto. Reaching its 67th edition in 2026, it is considered one of the few carnivals in the valley to feature a full-scale parade of large allegorical floats, making it a unique and defining event for the entire community.

Origins in the 1960s

The event was founded in the 1960s at the initiative of Father Luciano Franch, who wanted to offer the village youth an opportunity for celebration and community gathering. Since then, the tradition has been passed down from generation to generation, involving groups, associations, and families from Volano in the construction of the floats. Every year, for months, volunteers work in warehouses to bring increasingly large and ambitious papier-mâché structures to life, inspired by current events, pop culture, cinema, and satire.

The allegorical float parade

The highlight is the parade of allegorical floats and costumed groups, which winds through the town center (via Stazione, via G. G. Tovazzi, via Giuseppe Zucchelli, via Raffaelli). The floats, brought to life by choreography, music, and costumed performers, are judged and awarded prizes. Recent editions have featured creations dedicated to themes such as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Volano-Cortina, Lilo & Stitch, Ghostbusters, and Super Mario, blending fantasy, irony, and sharp social satire.

The Alpini pasta feast and the Mascherissima

The program extends beyond the parade. On Shrove Tuesday, at the Don Italo Morghen Oratory square, the local Alpini Nikolajevka group hosts the traditional Alpini pasta feast, while in the afternoon, the Mascherissima takes center stage—a cheerful parade reserved for children in costume, the absolute stars of the day. To complete the festivities, food stalls offer local specialties, from mulled wine and apple fritters to spit-roasted bull.

A festival for the whole community

Organized by the Volano Children's Carnival Committee, the event is free to attend and attracts visitors from across the Vallagarina and the wider Trentino region. More than just a parade, the Volano Carnival is a symbol of the village's identity, where creativity, irony, and popular participation go hand in hand, keeping a tradition that is now over sixty years old alive.