Location: Florence

The International Sand Sculpture Festival in the Algarve is one of the largest of its kind. You will be able to see some incredible sand art made by 60 artists. 

This incredible big festival is also known as FEISA or Sand City. It all began in 2003 and since then, the festival has become world-renowned for its fine sand art. You will be able to enjoy unique pieces of art made by professional artists.  The details and height of some sculptures will amaze you.  And all the sculptures are 100% made of sand.

The festival will have a different theme every year. Some past themes were Star Wars, animal kingdom, music, and mythology. You can see these sculptures in daylight and at night when the sculptures come to life in atmospheric light. You can take a guided tour to learn all the wonderful stories behind the sand sculptures.  And if you would like to try you can take a workshop to learn about this incredible art.

Learn more about the details and program of the International Sand Sculpture Festival. And when you are making plans to visit the Algarve you might want to read our tips. We have some great tips for your hotel stay in the Algarve as well.

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The Athens Epidaurus Festival is one of the oldest cultural festivals in Europe. For more than 65 years this has been the place to enjoy music, dance, and theater.

During this festival, you’ll be able to see incredible performances by artists from all over the world. Not only can you see renowned artists, but it has been an important springboard for upcoming artists.

It is not just the performances themselves that will attract your attention. The concerts and performances will take place in different venues, three of them are Ancient theaters. Imagine sitting in one of these theaters to see live performances, it’s a dream come true.

Not only do they have performances at the ancient theaters but other unconventional places as well. You can find art installations at industrial sights for example.  There will be performances connected to the festival all year round. Just take a look at the website to find the performance or concert of your liking.

If you want to learn more about all the concerts, and performances at Athens Epidaurus Festival go to their webpage. For more information about traveling in Europe, you can visit this website. And go to this page to get some tips for traveling with small children.

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The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is a fun family event at Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake. The festival lasts for a few months and offers plenty of entertaining activities.

The festival honors some of the cuisines and cooking techniques from around the world, and hosts seminars and workshops. Also, there are music shows and delicious dishes, sweet treats, fine wine, craft beer, much more.

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is an excellent choice for family fall festivals, as it offers fun for the entire family. While parents can taste wine, children can enjoy rides and take part in the games.

If you are traveling to Orlando for the festival, make sure to book a place on time. You can get inspiration on our list of Best family hotels in Orlando. For more information about the city check our Travel guide.

Dates to be confirmed!

For almost 150 years, Colorado State Fair attracts visitors from all over the world to celebrate the state Colorado together in a festive atmosphere. 

It is an annual summer event that lasts for ten days, filled with live entertainment activities, located at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, CO.

Those include food markets, music performances, carnival, art displays, raging bulls, horse shows, and many more.

Colorado Department of Agriculture organizes many exciting activities for children. Furthermore, you can take them on special carnival rides in Crabtree Amusements park.

If you are visiting Denver for the first time, check our travel guide. Find out where are the best family hotels in Denver.

Dragon Con in Atlanta is a cultural convention that highlights the science fiction, literature in the music and film form.

It offers great opportunities to enjoy the fun of fantasy and literature world surrounded by like-minded children and adults. The convention takes place in five hotels in Atlanta.

Dragon Con in Atlanta lasts for five days in September. One of the most interesting activities is the Comic and Pop Artists Alley, in which you can show all superhero stories to your children and meet the heroes.

Are you think about saving the dates for the convention? Make sure to book the place on time, and check our Best Family Hotels list in Atlanta! For more ideas of sightseeing, check the Travel guide.

Halloween Horror Nights have the title of the best Halloween event for years in a row and offer a unique and unforgettable experience. For many nights, the streets of Universal Studios Florida get live with mutants, witches, zombies, monsters, and maniacs.

The program of Halloween Horror Nights features tours to terrifying haunted houses with costumed people.

Some of the last year’s haunted houses were Ghostbusters, Stranger Things, Jordan Peele’s Us, House of 1000 Corpses, Killer Clowns from Outer Space. Also, several rides of the studio remain open during the event, and some get scarier.

If your family likes ghosts and horror, stories make sure to get the tickets and take them on this scary, but fun trip. The Nights are open on selected nights. Make sure to check the schedule before you book your trip.

While you are there, make sure to check more tourist sightseeing spots in Orlando. You can find out more about the city in our Travel guide. For places to stay, check our list of Best family hotels.

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A beautiful Berlin city gets even prettier during the Festival of Lights. For this occasion, the famous city monuments such as Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral and the Funkturm get illuminated with lights art shows and video projections.

Aside from light shows, Festival of Lights includes arts and music events across the city. If you want to explore Berlin uniquely and entertainingly, you can take part in LightSeeing tours by bus or walk.

Photography workshops and charity events as part of the Festival, also attract many visitors.

Find out how to achieve a stress-free family trip, even if you travel with toddlers in our Travel with Kids section. For more exciting places to visit, check our Family Destinations guide.

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The Toronto Air Show is an international show featuring the Canadian forces Snowbirds.

Every year during the Labour Day weekend you’ll be able to enjoy this spectacle right in the heart of Toronto. So, during this weekend you will be treated to the best flight shows making sure you have a thrilling and exciting weekend.

This event has been held for quite a few years. Therefore it has become one of the biggest and well-known flight shows in Canada.

You will not only see military jets and the loved Canadian Forces Snowbirds during Toronto Air Show. Also, you will be treated to a trip back in history with vintage warbirds.

If you and your kids want the best places or meet the performers in person, you can purchase special tickets. But even if you don’t, you will be amazed by the roaring engines, acrobatic tricks, and the biggest spectacle you have ever seen. Make sure you don’t miss this show.

While planning your visit to Canada we recommend you read these articles for some tips and ideas for your next trip. Also, if you plan on traveling with your teenagers, read these tips to make the best of your family holiday.

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The Virginia Scottish Games and Festival will be held every year in September so you can get acquainted with everything Scottish.

See all the Best Family Events in the US.

It is a great place to soak in some Scottish heritage and customs on American soil. You´ll be able to see typical Scottish activities and competitions like Highland games, a bagpipe competition, fiddling, and highland dancing.

Also, there are children’s games which are more or less the same as the adult games but at children’s level. Enjoy archery and tree throwing after you help the monster of Loch Ness to cross the lake.

You can fill two days watching the competitions and hearing for your favorite team but if you have had enough adrenaline and excitement you can head to the stage for some live entertainment and concerts.

If you love oldtimers and especially English ones, this event is the place for you. There will be a wide array of classic English cars displayed at the festival. From Mini-coopers to old classic police cars.

Visit this page if you want to learn more about the Virginia Scottish Games and Festival. Also, if you need more tips about trips with your family in the US, visit this page. And this page for your hotel.

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The paper lantern festival is also known as ‘Festa Della Rificolon’ and will be held in Florence, Italy. This is an annual event to celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary on the 7th of September.

The paper lantern festival in Florence originated in the 17th century. This is when farmers would head to the basilica of Santissima Annunziata in Florence to commemorate the birthday of the Virgin Mary. They would start walking before dawn and used paper lanterns to light their path to the basilica. Once they arrived at the basilica, they would pray and offer the fruits of their harvest.

This tradition still exists today. A week before the event there are workshops where they learn the children to make the most elaborate, colorful, and beautiful shaped lanterns from papier-mâché.  The parade starts at 8 pm at the Santa Felicita square. While the children, parents, and visitors walk with their brightly colored lanterns to the basilica they sing a song.  It goes like this, ‘Ona Ona Ona ma che bella rificolona’ and is about the beautiful lanterns.

If you want to visit the paper lantern festival in Florence read this article to learn more, and check our guide ‘Best Time to Visit Italy‘. Or, read our article about other festivals in Italy and see where else you can go.

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Utah State Fair is an annual fair in the state of Utah that features free concerts of some of the most significant musical artists and many interesting activities.

There are also fair rides, crafts, food, and drinks vendors. Furthermore, Utah State Fair is a host to the exhibits of creative arts, photography, fashion and clothing, floriculture, etc.

The fairground looks like vivid land and there are plenty of free activities for the entire family. One of the most interesting events for the children is the hot dog decorating contest. The children can enjoy their favorite food and get a prize for the best hot dog!

While you are here, don’t forget to check our Salt Lake City Travel Guide. If you are traveling with small children, maybe our Travel with kids section can help.

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Every year’s Original Lobster Festival has a vivid children program – magic show, face painting, inflatable bounces, and various games.

The festival offers tasty food, free souvenirs, sports activities, and music performances. Fresh lobsters are the main protagonists of the event as meals and drinks! Screaming Lobsters is a famous drink so the parents can have fun as well on the Original Lobster Festival.

Location: Rainbow Lagoon Park in Long Beach, CA

Are you going to the City of Angels? Make a plan with our LA Travel guide, and book the place with our recommendations on Best family hotels in LA!

Autumn Dippemess in Frankfurt is an exciting traditional folk fair which makes a perfect way to kick of autumn season! Enjoy the rides, arts & crafts market, tasty food, and great music.

The Autumn Dippemess in Frankfurt goes back to medieval times, where it was the largest market for domestic products. The fair kept the sales tradition but improved the offer with plenty of interesting things to do and try.

The fair lasts for more than a week, which is plenty of time to experience all attractions. Take your family, and enjoy the German culture and fair folk tradition!

Check the list of Top ten family-friendly cities in Europe. Get the best hotels&resorts deals and save some money!

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Tennessee State Fair is an annual event and long tradition of family activities, entertainment, state pride and shows what makes Tennesse stand out from other places. The State Fair takes place in Nashville in September and offers a wide range of events and activities for both children and adults.

You can take attractive carnival rides, participate in the horticulture workshops, enjoy the creative arts exhibitions, taste Tennessee food specialties, have fun and enjoy lots of free events. Those include pigs race, train models exhibit, Western Comedy Show featuring two cowboys, milking demonstrations, fair parade and much more!

Each year, the Tennessee State Fair features a special landmark theme. Last year, it was “On the Mooove”, and we are still waiting to see what theme is this year!

Find family hotels anywhere you go on our list of Best family hotels! Finish our quiz and get some destination inspiration for future trips!

The Union Station Buskerfest Denver transforms Wynkoop Plaza in Denver into a public theatre and art space for one weekend in September.

See all the Best Family Events in the US.

You will be able to enjoy music, art installations, giant puppets, street performances, and music shows for free. The buskers will not ask for any entrance fee but would love a donation if you enjoyed yourself.

This festival is an initiative of Arts Street a training program under the Youth Employment Academy with the goal to create opportunities for young people in Colorado.

It is easy to visit the festival by bus, or Light Rail because it is right in front of the station. So, there is really no reason not to visit. There is nothing like the magic of theatre and performing arts. Allow yourself to go on a thrilling and amazing journey and enjoy the amazing skills of these true artists.

Check out this page about the Union Station Buskerfest Denver for details and information about the performers. Think about breakdancers, modern clowns, jugglers, mesmerizing living statues, and much more.

If you are still in doubt about your next trip destination with your family you can do this quiz. The best hotel deals you find here.

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The annual Mermaid Splash Fest in San Marcos is a two-week event which has a bit for everyone, including kids of all age.

As the Festival name indicates, the mermaids are the highlight of this event which honors the San Marcos’ river and culture.

The Mermaid Splash Fest starts with mermaid parade and live music shows. Also, it features engaging Kidzone with plenty of mermaid-themed games.

You can also check the Eco Village and get your hand on some hand-made souvenirs. There is plenty of food truck which sells delicious food!

Embrace the mermaid spirit and experience the vivid atmosphere of this unique Festival.

Check our Texas Travel Guide for more information on things to see and do. If you are still unsure about where to travel next, finish the quiz and get inspiration for your next family trip!

Dates to be confirmed!

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The Heritage Day or The Day of Open Monument is a great opportunity to experience some of the most glorious monuments in Berlin. On that day, monuments, which are usually closed for visitors, open the gates to promote cultural heritage and history.

You can take part in the guided tours on Heritage Day and learn more about each monument. The experienced guides will lead you through historic paths and highlight interesting details which you would never discover on your own.

The event is a unique opportunity to bring the culture closer to your children, as they will enjoy interesting facts. There is a new theme year.

Have you visited Berlin? Learn more about the city and have great family time with our tips on how to travel with kids!

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Mexican Independence Day in Las Vegas is a large fiesta with Latin music, food, entertainment, and much more. In the city of celebration such as Las Vegas, every party is even better.

You can also have fun in Vegas Park and take part in your kids in the battle of the street tacos. Grab some Mexican food and drink specials, and enjoy the free concerts at The LINQ Promenade Fountain stage.

The Celebration of Mexican Independence Day in Las Vegas September lasts for several days and features concerts famous music stars such as Pitbull and Alejandro Fernandez.

Make sure to book the place in Las Vegas on time, and check our list of Best family hotels. To get to know the city better, make sure to read our Vegas Travel guide.

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The World Puppet Theater Festival is an event that takes place every other year in Charleville-Mézières in France. The festival exists since the year 1961 to promote the art of puppetry. There will be around 250 puppeteer groups who will show their skills.

For 10 days the World Puppet Theater Festival is the place for everybody who loves puppeteers shows. The city will transform itself into one big theater where you can visit around 200 shows, and you will be able to enjoy a wide variety of techniques. You might see a solo puppeteer in the street and a big production on stage.

There will be puppeteer groups from all over the world including Finland, Japan, Senegal, Russia, and 25 other country’s. But it is not just about big groups, Amateurs, children and families are welcome too. The festival is there to share some laughter and joy.

Most of the shows take place on Place Ducale. It is not online the place to see the biggest and most impressive productions. The incredible architecture of the place will make every performance even more magical.

Read more about the World Puppet Theater Festival, and check out our blog about other festivals in France. Check our best times to visit France.

Best Family Events in France

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‎The Cous Cous Fest in Sicily is an annual food festival which is held in the small seaside town of San Vito Lo Capo. When you think of Cous Cous, Italy is not the first to come to mind. But Cous Cous is actually a local dish of San Vito Lo Capo and traditionally served with fish.

The festival will be held every year at the end of September. It is one of the most popular festivals of Sicily with over 250.000 visitors every year. During 10 days there will be music, markets, talk shows, a food market, food tasting and entertainment for children.

One of the most important parts of the festival is the cooking competition. In this competition, nine chefs from nine different countries will compete against each other to become the best Cous Cous chef of the festival. The winner will be selected by the public and a professional jury.

During the ten days, you can try a different style of Cous Cous every day at the Gastronomic Village. There will be various types of Cous Cous from all over the world.

If you want to visit the Cous Cous Fest in Sicily this article to learn more. Or, read our article about other festivals in Italy and see where else you can go.

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Duerkheim Sausage Market (Wurstmarkt) is the largest wine festival in the world and a place to be if you want something entertaining for the family. The festival features fairground rides, food stalls, and plenty of entertaining activities.

Wine village is a place where you can taste best out the best wines in Germany and enjoy beautiful jazz music. Other attractions include a spectacular mix or carnival rides on some of the largest roller coasters and a great atmosphere with live music shows.

Duerkheim Sausage Market has a tradition that lasts for a century and each year, more than 600.000 visitors come to this village to be a part of the festival. Bad Dürkheim is about 45 min from Heidelberg by car.

Looking for more family events? Check the list of The best family event around the globe for more ideas where to go next! Don’t miss special deals for hotels and resorts!

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Oslo Culture Night in Norway is a yearly free festival to enjoy performances, shows, and live music all around Oslo.

Every year the capital of Norway, Oslo turns into a big festival terrain for one night. All around the city you find art installations, dance performances, music, street performers, comedy, and shows. And you know what the best thing is? All shows are for free to promote the culture of Oslo.

Entertainers, musicians, artists, and comedians from all corners of Norway will head to the capital to show the people what they have to offer and entertain them. You and your family will be amazed by the variety of performing arts and shows. There is something for everybody.

The program of the event will be available around one month before the event in September. So, if you want to learn more about it, you can check the website of Oslo Culture Night Norway in August. So, when they post the program online you can decide if you want to see a movie, visit an acrobatic act, or head to a concert.

And while you are planning your trip to Europe you might want to learn more about other destinations there. Furthermore, you need a place to stay, check out our website for the best hotel deals in Europe.

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The world’s largest Volksfest is a must-see for adults and kids. It’s a combination of a folk festival, funfair, and beer festival. It’s is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany since 1810, and draws in about six million visitors every year.

The Oktoberfest has a lot to offer for families with children. Many know the event because of the large glasses of beer and party’s, but it is way more than that.

The history of the Oktoberfest starts in 1810 when King Ludwig I married Princess Therese. He decided to invite all the villagers to the fields surrounding the castle to celebrate this happy occasion. The festival since then has grown to be the biggest festival in the world and will be celebrated for 2 whole weeks.

The Oktoberfest is actually one of the best family events in Germany. There is a big fair, drink & food, and you can dress up! Parents and kids alike are invited to wear the traditional Lederhosen or Dirndl. Don’t forget to buy a beautifully decorated gingerbread heart to complete the experience.

The best day to visit Oktoberfest with children is Tuesday when rides and treats are offered at special prices.

The website of the Oktoberfest has everything you need to know about the children’s program. Or click here if you want to find out more about fun things to do with your children in Germany. Or read more helpful travel tips for Germany.

On Heritage Day (Open Monumentendag) in Amsterdam, it’s your chance to see many historic buildings and monuments for free, while the city celebrates its rich history. Wonderful architecture, art, and museums are waiting for your visit. There are also lots of special on-site activities like concerts, exhibitions, and guided tours.

Check out our Amsterdam City Guide, and Best Places to Stay for Families.

Cheekwood Harvest is a seasonal event in Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art that celebrates autumn with family-friendly activities. Some of the things you can do during Cheekwood Harvest are pumpkins picking, garden parade, beer tasting and many more.

The pumpkin house is an especially fun and exciting place for families, as you can carve and paint pumpkins in the 11-foot-tall Pumpkin House. After your children create a pumpkin masterpiece, you can buy and have it on display in your living room!

The harvest lasts for six weeks and during that time, you can witness the planting of 5,000 colorful chrysanthemums throughout the gardens.

If you find yourself in Nashville, make sure to visit the beautiful Botanical garden, as it becomes a stunning location, especially during the fall season.

Family trips can be exhaustive, but to make sure everything goes smoothly, you can find our advice on traveling with kids of all ages in our section here. For destination inspiration, finish our quiz!

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The Pumpkin Festival at Stone Mountain Park is a month-long event offering playful activities during the day and light installation exhibit during the night.

Play by day, glow by night is the official slogan of the event held in the family park with lots of park attractions. Some of them feature your children’s favorite playbook characters and exciting scenic train ride, all-new 4-D movie experience, and a pie-eating contest. Night activities of the Pumpkin Festival at Stone Mountain Park are massive carved pumpkin displays, rolling fog and boundless bubbles with glowing lights.

Plan your trip to Atlanta with our Travel guide! If you need a place to stay, you can check our list of Best Family Hotels in Atlanta.

The Santa Tecla Festival in Tarragona is one of the most significant folk events in Spain. It promotes Catalan’s unique culture and features authentic processions and exciting street events.

The program of the Santa Tecla Festival in Tarragona includes gastronomic events and a traditional festive atmosphere.

Human towers, costumes, fireworks, dancers, artistic performances are just some of the reasons to find time on your family trip to visit Tarragona in September.

Vivid scenery and creative, but historically accurate costumes will stay in your children’s mind forever.

If you are going for the first time in Spain, you can find useful information in our Spain guide. For more events, make sure to check our list of family events in Spain!

Sitges Santa Tecla lasts for two days at the end of September, with the traditional Night of fire on Saturday the week before.

It is a festival that honors the Patron Saint of Parish church. Night of fire introduces the celebration, with fire processions of the beastes through the city streets. A few days after, Sitges Santa Tecla starts with a large celebration, many Castellers in tall human towers.

The festival features the dance of mythical Catalan characters such as Bull, Dragon, Devil, Giant and Turk Dances.
The celebration culminates with a beach party and firework show to make the festival ends unforgettable until next year!

Read our Sitges Travel guide and learn why is Sitges so popular as a family destination. For places to stay, check our list of recommendations for Family hotels.

Lewisville Western Days Festival is a fun way to experience cowboy culture in the state of Texas. The two-day festival includes blacksmith demos, stick horses rodeo, mechanical bull riding, and spectacular longhorn parade.

Live music is on the program for both days, as well as Kid Kountry activities. Those are bounce houses, inflatable obstacle courses, roller roper, and boogie-woogie train.

During the Lewisville Western Days Festival, there is a special area for enjoying tribal dancers and antique trailer display.
Additionally, you can take your family to the petting zoo and pony rides!

If you plan to visit Texas with your family, check our kids-friendly Texas travel guide. For more entertaining family journeys, check our USA section and start planning your next trip!

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The State Fair of Texas is the largest and oldest state fair in the United States, offering live entertainment, educational shows, carnival rides, food, and much more entertaining attractions for the whole family.

Family fun includes scaled-down rides and games for fun-sized fairgoers, strollers for rent, bird shows, show by professional dancers and acrobats, etc. This year, you can even attend the Fiesta de Marionetas and enjoy the show of more than 80 marionetas in the themed village.

Try not to miss the Dog stunts show with many charming tricks as a part of the fun for people of all ages! During the State Fair of Texas, you can enjoy circus attractions and farmyard, and Starlight parade as the highlight of each night.

Going to Texas? Check our kids-friendly Texas Travel Guide, and plan the best road trip ever! If you are looking for amusement parks, check our list of Best USA amusement parks!

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Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is a vivid celebration of the Asian and American cultural friendship.

The highlight of the festival is dragon boat races, that are traditional Asian heritage. Expect lots of fun and unique festival experience.

During two days of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, you can enjoy artistic performances, music shows, traditional Asian specialties and many more.

The vivid colors of Pan Asian Culture and interactive events such as spicy ramen eating contests are some of the additional features. Dragonland is an area your children will want to spend the most because of the games and playgrounds.

If you are planning a trip to Denver, check our travel guide. While you are there, find a place to stay and save some money on the best hotel deals.

The Sandcastle Days is a family beach festival that promotes sculptures in the sand in a beautiful landscape – South Padre Island shores. Kids will love the event, and you can even attend free workshops to improve your sand sculpturing skills!

The event that started as a way to save the beautiful South Padre Island coastal shores, grew in a magnificent event attracting more than 30 thousand visitors each year.

The Sandcastle Days offers a unique opportunity to build your castle with local professionals who will help you build your dream castle. Each year the event takes place at the beginning of October and lasts for several days.

The festival also includes live music and kids games, as well as various vendors!

Texas is a great destination for a family tour. Find out why in our Texas Travel Guide! For more interesting events, check the list of Best family event is the USA!

Dates to be confirmed!

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Mangialonga Lunigiana food festival means literally ‘long eating’ in Lunigiana. It is a festival to celebrate the harvest at the beginning of Spring. The north of Tuscany is known for its food festivals in every season. They hold these festivals to come together and enjoy the harvest of that season.

The Mangialonga in Lunigiana is also called Mangiawalking. This walk is around 12 km long. And while walking along the route you will pass different places to eat. Here they will offer you local food in a small and homey setting. It is a great way to explore the area and get to know the local people.

While enjoying the scenery of rolling hills and small picturesque villages you will taste a variety of the best local dishes like bruschetta’s, sweats with honey, cheeses, pasta’s, biscotti, macadamia nuts, and others. For the adults, there is Grappa and Italian Brandy, while the children can drink fruit juice.

You pay a fixed price per person to enjoy all these delicious local delicacies, for children under 6 years old it is free to participate. The event will start in the morning and end when everybody is full and ready to go home.

Check this page to learn more about the unspoiled area of Lunigiana. Read our article about festivals in Italy to learn about them.

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