Christmas 2025 Florence Events for Children

 

Saturday, December 14: CHILDREN’S LENDING LIBRARY CHRISTMAS PARTY. St. James Episcopal  Church, via Rucellai 9. 4 – 6 pm. Free entrance for library members, non-members pay €5. 

The undercroft of the church will host crafts, games and other holiday activities, a visit from Santa and a songfest of Christmas carols. Festivities will continue with a bake sale; toys and  books for purchase will be displayed. 

The best-known reading center for bilingual kids in Florence, the Children’s Lending Library offers picture books, primary and easy readers, nonfiction, reference and junior fiction, all in  English. Located between the train station and Porta a Prato), the library contains 1,000 volumes;  volunteers organize readings, and activities such as drawing and dramatizations.

Sunday, December 15: OPEN DAY AT THE GHERARDESCA GARDEN (entrances: Borgo Pinti 97, piazzale Donatello 12, and via Gino Capponi 54).  10 am – 4 pm. Admission: €1 (adults).

Guests can stroll through the beautiful grounds, accessible to the public only once a year just for this occasion, shop at gift tables and pause for sustenance at refreshment stalls that showcase local producers and food artisans. For younger visitors, the members of the Compagnia di Babbo Natale will dress up like Santa Claus to sing Christmas carols, and St. Nick himself can be visited at the Santa house.  The garden will host a historical pageant of the Florentine Republic and a flag-throwing demonstration at 10:30 am, followed by concert by children’s choir at 12 noon. 

A lottery features a rich selection of prizes.  All proceeds will be donated to AIL (The Italian Leukemia Association) and Pallium ODV.  The latter will invest the funds in the acquisition of an ultrasound machine for home care of terminally-ill patients.