A Family Halloween in Florence

Halloween at the Children’s Lending Library

Halloween in Florence is different than Halloween in America. In Florence, kids do not dress up and walk through the narrow streets knocking on neighbor’s doors saying “trick or treat?” but instead parks and various places organize special events. All ages are invited to come to these festive events and dress up. Cheap and entertaining, activities such as crafts and races are included.  Join the fun and experience a Florence Halloween!  

Saturday, October 27

Hard Rock Cafe is hosting their annual Little Monsters Ball.  There will be a brunch buffet from 9:15 to 11:15 am. Breakfast will be followed by face painting, crafting balloon animals, and a masquerade parade. The best costume will receive a special prize, so scary up! Admission is €10 for kids, €16 for adults, free for kids under 2. For more information and to reserve a spot contact florence.sales2@hardrock.com or call 055/277841.  

The Children Lending Library is hosting their annual Halloween party at St. James Church (via Rucellai 9) from 4 to 6 pm. All ages are welcome and encouraged to dress up in their best costumes. There will be games, craft activities and face painting. For the fun fundraiser, the library will be decorated; prizes and trick or treat bags will be given out.  Admission is €4 for library members, €7 for non-library members at the door. This event is a fundraiser for the library because all the workers are volunteers. The library contains 1,000 volumes of books and many DVDs. So, let’s show them our Halloween love and support.

Sunday, October 28

The “Laboratorio di Cucina da Paura” (Frightful Cooking) is stirring up. From 10 am to 12 noon parents and children are welcome to come and make a Halloween meal.  The cooking lesson make a mummy-themed snack pizzas, chocolate rats, and witch fingers.  The cost of the cooking class is  €60 for two people and includes the ingredients and equipment. For more information email semidicreativita@gmail.com or call 3384098763 or 3891291866.

Florentine dog shelter, l’Accademia cinofila fiorentina (via dell’Argingrosso, 169) is hosting a family Halloween celebration. The fundraiser includes games, dancing, readings, a guided tour, and snacks.  The organizers ask that guests arrive by 3 pm, but the fun doesn’t start until 3:30. Reserve a spot now and email info@spaziocreativo.info or call 338/1241514.  Admission is €10 per person and €5 for 4 and under.

The Ceramic Museum of Montelupo Fiorentino is organizing a Halloween special.  All are welcome to design a T-shirt to take home using the motifs (such as mythological creatures) on the artifacts in addition to the shapes of the beautiful historic ceramics displayed at the museum.  The workshop starts at 4:30 pm and admission is €2. For more information and to book reservations contact the Museo della ceramica, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 11 be either calling 0571/51087 or emailing info@museomontelupo.it.

Wednesday, October 31: Halloween

If you dare, take a guided walk through the haunted historic center at night. Designed for ages between 6 and 11, children will be escorted through the building meeting witches and wizards who pop out to offer with tricks or treats.  A spot on the tour, which takes place between 5:30 and 7:30 pm, can be reserved by emailing eventi@trepassiperfirenze.com or calling 333/7505021.

The Planetarium of Florence has organized two time slots during which children can use a witches hat as a medium to explore the universe. The first session starts at 6 pm and the next starts at 7:15 pm. Then at 9 pm the planetarium will be displaying phenomenon such as star constellations and black holes in space. The Science and Technology Foundation which hosts the center is located at Via Giusti 29, Florence. For more information, visit their Facebook page, send an email to iscrizioni@fstfirenze.itor call 055/2343723.

Don’t miss the annual Halloween run at the Parco delle Cascine park in Florence. The “Firenze Halloween Run” has both a 5 km (3mi) run and a Family Run that is 3 km (just 2mi) long. There will also be rides and a craft booth. The loop route is Halloween decorated and starts at 7 pm at the Le Pavoniere swimming pool, Parco delle Cascine. All kids are encouraged to show up Halloween costumes and can make a mask at one of the booths. The person judged to be wearing the best costume will be awarded a special prize.

Admission is €10 per person and €5 for those under 10 years old; reserve a place in the race by October 31 at 6:30 on the web site.  Or sign up at the closest authorized shops such as Universo or Nencini Sport, Filistrucchi and L’Isolotto dello Sport.  Reservations between October 26 – 30 cost €12 (€5 for kids under 10) and €15 at a booth next to the Pavoniere swimming pool (€5 for children under 10) which comprises a gift bag and refreshments after the race.  

Buonerìa (Via del Fosso Macinante, 4) is hosting a party for kids starting at 4:30 pm featuring workshops, readings and face painting and free snacks. (sienna kirk)

Happy horrifying Halloween!