Free Activities for Kids at the 2025 Children’s Festival (Festival dei Bambini)

The City of Florence presents Florence for Children (Festival dei Bambini), three days filled with events, workshops, music, art and theatre that will take place from May 23 – 25. The theme, “Let’s Build Peace: The Song of the World” aims to inspire the young to create peace. Peace means not only the absence of war, but the challenge of learning to live together, fostering respect and listening, helping children to live a kinder and more supportive life.

Beginning on Friday, May 23, many activities on the theme will be offered at schools with the weekend geared towards families and children from age 0 – 12. From music, to workshops, painting, dancing and play, the three-day festival offers a rich selection for families and children. All activities are free.

This year’s program, promoted by the Florence Education Department and organized by M.U.S.E Foundation, focuses on the belief that the idea of peace is instilled at an early age. The organizers took inspiration from the poem written by St. Francis of Assisi 800 years ago entitled “Canticle of the Creatures” which praises God through creatures: Sister Moon, Brother Sun, Wind, Air, Water and Fire.

The annual special event of the festival is the sleepover available to kids ages six and over with an accompanying adult with a choice of venue: Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Medici Riccardi and the Bardini Museum, which includes complimentary breakfast the next morning.  Reservations are necessary (info.muse@comune.fi.it) in order to participate, and can be made from 10 am on May 19 to 10 pm on May 22.

The activities are hosted all over the city in historical sites and museums and include the following:

In Cascine Park children aged 9-12 can enjoy a tour with the Forest Police learning about the urban forest and how preserving green spaces improves our future. The event begins at the Pyramid, walking through the park to explore and ending at the Amphitheatre (Saturday and Sunday, 10 am).

How do we know that climate is changing?  By studying dinosaurs, fossils and organisms preserved in rock, we can learn about changes in the environment and climate over millions of years at Le Murate, piazza delle Murate, via Ghibellina (Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm, ages 9 – 12).

Le Murate also presents a workshop on the educational robotics tools and how they assist biologists and geologists to explore the sun. While there enjoy viewing a peace mandala created by children (Sunday 2:30 and 4 pm, ages 6 – 12).

“Music Will Save the World.” These words of renowned cellist Pablo Casals provide hope for a future of respect and brotherhood for all. Two short performances will be offered in the Michelozzo Courtyard and the Salone dei Cinquecento (Palazzo Vecchio, Sunday at 3 pm, ages 3 – 12).

Not to forget the youngest among us, the Nido di Pace (Nest of Peace) takes over the laboratory space of the Palazzo Medici Riccardi museum for play, free movement and exploration (Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 12:30 pm and 2:30 – 5:30 pm, ages 0 – 4).

“Let’s Make Peace: The Voice of Children on War.” An exhibition presents war through the eyes of the young, listening to the voices and seeing the words of the most innocent victims of recent and current wars. Drawings and writings by children help us understand what is suffered by the very young (Museo degli Innocenti, Saturday and Sunday 10 – 5:30 pm, ages 6 – 12).

“Children Create Pace:” the Mercato Centrale hosts a paper theatre performance featuring the story of 1,000 paper cranes a Japanese girl folded hoping her dream of peace would come true.

Sadly, the girl died from the effects of the atomic bomb, but her story still inspires young and old alike. Each participant can write their dream on paper and learn how to fold it into a crane, decorate and color (Mercato Centrale, Friday 4:30 and 6:30 pm, ages 0 – 12).

All events are in Italian and for activities requiring a reservation, it is mandatory to book for both the adult and the participating child. For complete information and reservations, visit the website: www.firenzebambini.it