Lucca In Maschera is back! The parade will take place on Sunday 4th February on the walls . There will also be installations in the squares for a few weeks.
The parade is scheduled to commence on Sunday 4 February, starting from 3 pm. The route starts above Porta S.Anna and then continues along the curtain of the city walls up to the Caffè delle Mura, where a first performance will be held, with dances, choreographies and theme and presentation by Daniele Maffei, official speaker of the Viareggio Carnival. The masked groups, with around 500 participants, miniature floats and many other surprises, will then descend into Piazza San Michele, where a second spectacular performance is planned. The exceptional godmother of the parade will be Chiara Squaglia, a well-known face from Striscia la Notizia, who will open the parade together with Ondina and Burlamacco.
Two large screens will be installed at the Caffè delle Mura and in Piazza San Michele, which will show images of the Viareggio Carnival floats from the 2024 edition during the parade.
The main novelty of this edition of LIM is represented by the large papier-mâché works of the master tank drivers of Viareggio, which will be protagonists in the most iconic places of the city. In Piazza Napoleone, with the collaboration of the Lucca Summer Festival, the work "The Rolling Stones return to Lucca" will be positioned throughout the month of February, with a large papier-mâché depicting the band for a tribute to the historic concert which consecrated Lucca in 2017 at the center of the international music scene. The work was created by the master Luca Bertozzi, as was "The Tiger in the Cage", which will dominate Piazza San Michele looking out from the loggia of Palazzo Pretorio. Piazza Anfiteatro will also be involved, with the papier-mâché work "Gli Sciamani", fascinating and mysterious, created by the master Michele Canova.
This edition of LIM will also be characterized by the synergy with the Carlo Collodi Foundation, which participates in the event by bringing the magic of the fairy tale of Pinocchio, the most famous in the world, to Piazzale Verdi, in the pedestrian space in front of the tourist reception centre. The great whale from the fairy tale, the Pinocchio theater and a giant book will be protagonists day and night, thanks to the special lighting, representing a truly unique attraction for adults and children.
On Saturday 17 February starting at 9pm in Piazza Anfiteatro. The protagonists of the evening will be the PanPers, a comic duo of cabaret artists and actors among the most popular of the moment and absolute star performers in the latest edition of Zelig, on Canale 5. Having exploded with the program Colorado, in recent years the two have become real and their own social icons for the new generations and beyond, with over 3 million total followers across the various digital channels.
Also on Saturday 17 February, the return of the Allegra Baccanata is scheduled throughout the historic center, with the city's activities and venues, united and coordinated by Confcommercio, which will liven up the evening with surprising masks and entertainment. Confcommercio also renews the 'Discounts in Mask' initiative (on the weekend of 3 and 4 February), with super offers in the best shops in the historic center, and relaunches the traditional Carneval Fratta, in collaboration with traders in the eastern area.
Also unmissable are the events dedicated to children, organized by the Events office of the Municipality of Lucca in collaboration with the Acchiappasogni association, which will begin on Saturday 3 February at 3 pm in Piazza San Francesco, with a party for the very young characterized by games, fire eating, streamers and entertainment by the Circotà company. The event will be renewed on Saturday 17 February in Piazza San Michele from 4pm and Sunday 25 February in Villa Bottini, with 'The Kingdom of Carnival', which from 3pm will entertain children and families with recreational activities, workshops, juggling shows and specials surprises. An unprecedented puppet show will also be held on Saturday 17 February in the Mint basement, organized by the Il Sogno di Costantino association. MORE INFO
