‘Firenze dei Bambini’: A Festival for Kids

May 13 – 15, 2022: FIRENZE DEI BAMBINI FESTIVAL – Give Me Your Hand.  Organized by the Municipality of Florence and MUS.E.

Children can engage in free, all in-person activities at Florence’s annual festival, Firenze dei Bambini. The 2022 edition is three days long, allowing children up to 12 years old to participate in various events throughout the city. While events are free, some require a reservation.

This year’s festival is entitled “Qua la mano,” aiming to renormalize human connection as socialization rather than a cause for health concerns. Before the pandemic, interaction strived tremendously through simple handshakes, hugs, and helping one another. While surviving through social distancing, we tend to forget how vital those forms of communication were, especially for children. This year’s theme reemphasizes that importance through social stimulation and development.

Museums are offering free entry for participants. These include the Florentine Civic Museums and the church of Santa Croce, the Opera del Duomo museum, the Boboli Gardens, the Natural History Museum, the Arcetri Observatory, and others. The Oblate library is hosting readings, demonstrations, concerts, and shows.

FRIDAY

The kick-off will occur at the Palazzo Vecchio, Sala d’Arme, on May 13 at 6 pm. A video message from guest speaker Ambra Sabatini, Paralympic gold medalist in the Tokyo 2020 games, will screen to commence the festival. Following is an illustrated story with drawings by Arianna Papini and actors from the I Nuovi company. A performance will greet the audience in Piazza Signoria.

SATURDAY

Events will take place at various venues around the city, promising engaging opportunities for all participants. Most of the same events are also offered on Sunday, May 15; however certain activities are only offered on Saturday. Some of the Saturday specific activities are entitled:

Heart of Ice: Interactive storytelling.

Oblate Library, Via dell’Oriuolo, 24

Family Portrait: Artistic experience where children analyze great art pieces and familial portraits.

Casa Vasari, Borgo Santa Croce 8

Stories of a Whale: Exploring fossils from whales of 3 million years ago.

Natural History Museum At the Museum of Geology and Paleontology, Via La Pira 4, Florence

Salone dei Cinquecento hosts the popular event “Night at the Museum.”  Children ages 6 -12 years old can feel at home sleeping in one of the most significant and historical rooms of the Palazzo Vecchio. “Night at the Museum” will begin Saturday, May 14, at 9 am, and end Sunday, May 15, at 8 am.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

The Sala d’Arme is set to exhibit the installation by the Ludosofici of Milan, “Bosco delle Utopi,” an interactive learning experience for kids. Posing the question, “what is a utopia?” families and children are able to use their imaginations. The installation will be available for the participants on Saturday from 12 noon – 6 pm and Sunday 12 noon – 5 pm.

The Instituto degli Innocenti is set to offer numerous activities, experiences, and workshops for children ages three to 12. Specifically, offerings include:

  • Scheduled cooking shows
  • Activities of Uga la Tartaruga
  • Artisanal workshops hosted at Bottega dei Ragazzi by Artex, Centro.

SUNDAY

On May 15 at 5:30 pm, the final event is a performance from the “Musici del Calcio Storico Fiorentino” and young talent from the Maggio Musicale Academy and the Maggio Musicale White Voices Chorus. The concert will take place at the Theater of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Children ages 3-12 years old are encouraged to attend.  (gioia guarino)

Reservations can be made for specified events online, adults and children e must reserve a spot online. Reservations are accepted until 1 pm on Friday, May 13. FFP2 masks are required for those over six years of age, alongside other sanitary requirements such as hand sanitization. Find a link to the complete program of events and information here https://www.firenzebambini.it/.