Viareggio Carnival with kids: practical tips for a stress-free day

Events & Viareggio Carnival · 6 min read

The Viareggio Carnival is a party made for children too: moving floats as tall as buildings, music, confetti and a whole town in costume. With a few precautions the day stays a lovely memory rather than an obstacle course. Here you will find the official rules that concern children and our practical tips. The 2027 dates are official; the 2027 programme of children's parties is not out yet, so for those we tell you how it went in 2026.

Tickets: who pays and who doesn't

• Children up to 1.20 m tall get in free to the parades.
• For kids taller than 1.20 m and under 14 there is a reduced price: the 2027 season pass for all six parades costs €30 until 24 December 2026 (then €40).
• For adults the season pass is €40 in pre-sale, then €50.

All prices and dates are in our guide Viareggio Carnival 2027: dates and tickets.

The 3 pm parades suit small children best: daylight, less cold and home at a sensible time.

Which parade to choose with children

In 2027 the parades are on 30 January and 4, 7, 9, 14 and 20 February. With small children the 3 pm afternoon parades usually work best (Sunday 7, Tuesday 9 and Sunday 14 February): it is light, less cold and you get home at a reasonable time. Each parade lasts about three hours.

The opening (30 January) and closing (20 February) parades end with fireworks: beautiful, but late and loud. The Giovedì Grasso parade (4 February, 5 pm) is by night, with the floats lit up: magical for older kids and, being a weekday, often less crowded than the weekend.

Pushchairs, grandstands and lost children

• Pushchairs and prams are allowed in the Carnival area but not on the grandstands: grandstand ticket holders can leave them nearby.
• If you plan to sit for the whole parade with a small child, consider the grandstand supplement.
• For lost children the Fondazione says to go to the announcer points and security staff, who work with the police.
• Pets are allowed, but the Fondazione advises against it because of the loud music.

Our own tip: write your phone number on a wristband or a note in your child's pocket, and agree on an easy meeting point, for example a specific entrance such as piazza Mazzini.

The costume

In Viareggio children in costume are the rule. To hire one, the Fondazione suggests children's shops. In February it can be cold and windy on the seafront: choose a costume that goes over a coat, or at least over a thick sweatshirt. Test face paint at home a few days before to avoid irritation.

What to pack

• warm layers, hat and gloves: three hours outdoors in February is a long time;
• a rain poncho if the weather is uncertain;
• ear protection for the little ones: near the floats the music is very loud;
• water, snacks and wipes;
• confetti and streamers (they are part of the fun);
• a power bank for your phone.

Children's neighbourhood parties

Besides the parades, Viareggio's neighbourhoods organise parties, some made especially for children, with entertainment, snacks and costume parades. The 2027 programme has not been published yet.

To give you an idea, in 2026 the children's parties were: Rione Campo d'Aviazione on Monday 2 February (from 2:45 pm, with a costume parade), Rione Bicchio on Wednesday 4 February (from 3 pm), Rioni Terminetto and Migliarina on Friday 6 February (from 3 pm), Carneval Puccini in the foyer of the Gran Teatro Giacomo Puccini on Sunday 8 February (from 3 pm), Rione Varignano on Friday 13 February (from 2:30 pm) and CarnevalDarsena's “Carnevalpolpettino” on Saturday 14 February (from 3 pm). Many had free entry.

The Cittadella del Carnevale and the museum

If you have time, the Cittadella del Carnevale in via Santa Maria Goretti is perfect for kids: it is where the floats are built and it houses the Carnival Museum. Museum entry is free for children up to 11 accompanied by an adult. On parade days the museum opens only in the morning (9 am–1 pm), so you can visit in the morning and watch the parade in the afternoon. During the year the Cittadella also runs papier-mâché and drawing workshops. Urban bus line 21 (at) goes there.

For the story of Burlamacco and Ondina to tell the kids, see our guide to the history of the Carnival.

After the parade

At the end of the parade, and especially after the fireworks, thousands of people leave the circuit at the same time. With small children, don't rush: wait ten or fifteen minutes for the crowd to thin out, hold the little ones by the hand or carry them, and leave by the exit closest to your car or towards the station. If the neighbourhood-party programme allows, dinner at a rione party is the most Viareggio way to end the day, but with tired kids a quiet trip home is sometimes better.

Getting there and where to stay

With children the train is often the least stressful option: the station is about a 13-minute walk from the sea. If you drive, first read the guide parking, trains and shuttles. For a family, a night in Versilia makes everything calmer: see where to stay in Versilia.

Sources: Fondazione Carnevale – FAQ (sezione Bambini) · Fondazione Carnevale – Biglietti e Museo · Programma 2027 · Viareggino – feste rionali 2026 · SeiVersilia – eventi 2026 · Autolinee Toscane. General information: opening times, prices and dates change, so always check the official websites.