Carnival in Acireale 2025
The Carnival in Acireale, defined as The most beautiful Carnival in Sicily, is one of the oldest on the island, and takes place every year in the city of Acireale.
The the stupendous streets and squares of the historic center of Acireale become the setting for a show that reaches its peak with the parades of allegorical-grotesque floats, through which the Acireale artisans express their imagination and artistic prowess. The floats are made of paper mache and are illuminated by thousands of bulbs and lights. The floats, during the exhibition, perform spectacular movements creating ever-changing scenery. The allegorical floats parade on the three Sundays of the Carnival of Acireale, on Shrove Thursday and every day from the last Saturday to Shrove Tuesday.
In addition to the papier-mâché floats, the last week of Carnival also parades the flower's floats, large floats where the figures are made up of hundreds of thousands of flowers with movement and lights. They are also equipped with mechanical movements and lights. The flowered floats of Acireale arise from the tradition of covering cars with flowers and for this reason they are still called the flower's cars.
Dates and Scheduling
The big news of this 2025 edition are the night parades enriched by DJ sets and traveling shows that will liven up the streets until midnight. Furthermore, every Sunday evening, three main squares of Acireale, Piazza Duomo, Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza Indirizzo, will host live performances by local artists and Sicilian bands. Guaranteed fun for the little ones with fun activities, workshops and the fascinating "Paper Mache Workshops". Piazza Garibaldi will be a place of creativity and fun for families. Among the new features is the "CarnevAnimale" competition which will reward the cutest and most original costumes for four-legged friends. Alongside the New Proposals, there are Traditional Events such as parades of isolated masks and miniature floats. Favorite events such as the "Children in Mask" competition and the postcard drawing competition will return. There will also be space for the creativity of schools and new papier-mâché artists.
15 Feb 2025
Ticket for entrance
10:00 Exhibition of allegorical-grotesque carts
10:30 Display of isolated masks.
12:00 Opening of the miniature carts exhibition at the Maugeri Theatre.
Teatro Maugeri
15:00 Music show.
Piazza Duomo
17:00 Delivery of the keys to King Joker represented by the godmother of the Carnival and opening ceremony of the most beautiful carnival in Sicily with masked group and opening carts.
18:00 - 24:00 Nocturnal parade of allegorical-grotesque floats with DJ sets and traveling entertainment and parade of isolated masks.
16 Feb 2025
Ticket for entrance
Exhibition of miniature carts at the Maugeri Theatre.
09:00 Acireale Carnival Cup Running Trophy.
11:00 Exhibition of allegorical-grotesque carts and exhibition of isolated masks.
12:00 Playful and musical entertainment for children from Piazza Indirizzo to Piazza Duomo.
14:00 Music show.
Piazza Duomo
15:00 Parade of allegorical carts, masked groups and isolated masks.
21:30 Entertainment show in Piazza Duomo.
Piazza Duomo
21:30 Music show.
Piazza Garibaldi
21:30 Music show.
Piazza Indirizzo
22 Feb 2025
Ticket for entrance
Exhibition of miniature chariots along the circuit (full day).
10:00 Exhibition of allegorical carts.
10:30 Display of isolated masks.
15:00 Music show.
Piazza Duomo
18:00 - 24:00 Night parade of allegorical carts with DJ Set and traveling entertainment and parade of isolated masks.
23 Feb 2025
Ticket for entrance
Exhibition of miniature carts at the Maugeri Theatre (whole day).
10:00 Exhibition of allegorical carts.
12:00 Musical entertainment for children.
Piazza Garibaldi
14:00 Music show.
Piazza Duomo
16:00 Parade of allegorical carts, masked groups and isolated masks.
21:30 Entertainment show in Piazza Duomo.
Piazza Duomo
21:30 Music show.
Piazza Garibaldi
21:30 Music show.
Piazza Indirizzo
27 Feb 2025
Free entrance
Exhibition of miniature floats at the Maugeri Theater (full day).
09:00 Raduno scuole in maschera.
09:30 Parade of masked school students.
15:30 Popular games.
Piazza Garibaldi
16:00 Stand Aci Comics.
Piazza Duomo
21:00 DJ Set
Piazza Duomo
28 Feb 2025
Free entrance
Exhibition of miniature carts at the Maugeri Theater (full day).
16:00 Children in Mask Competition.
Teatro Turi Ferro
18:00 Carnevanimale.
19:00 Award ceremony for the “Baronetto ice cream” competition.
21:00 Music show.
Piazza Duomo
1 Mar 2025
Entrance ticket
Exhibition of miniature carts at the Maugeri Theater (full day).
09:00 Raduno scuole in maschera.
09:30 Parade of masked school students.
10:00 Exhibition of allegorical carts.
10:30 Display of isolated masks.
15:00 Music show.
Piazza Duomo
18:00 - 24:00 Night parade of allegorical floats with DJ Set, traveling entertainment and parade of isolated masks.
2 Mar 2025
Entrance ticket
Exhibition of miniature carts in the Maugeri Theater (full day).
Teatro Maugeri
10:00 Exhibition of allegorical carts.
12:00 The papier-mâché workshops for children in Piazza Garibaldi.
Piazza Garibaldi
13:00 Intrattenimento musicale.
Piazza Duomo
13:00 Musical entertainment.
Piazza Indirizzo
Parade of allegorical carts, masked groups and isolated masks.
21:30 Entertainment show.
Piazza Duomo
21:30 Musica show.
Piazza Garibaldi
21:30 Music show.
Piazza Indirizzo
3 Mar 2025
Free entrance
Exhibition of miniature carts at the Maugeri Theater (full day).
11:00 "Pazza Duomo", with the participation of high schools
Piazza Duomo
18:00 "Baroque Noises".
4 Mar 2025
Entrance ticket
Exhibition of miniature carts at the Maugeri Theater (full day).
10:00 Exhibition of allegorical carts and display of isolated masks.
13:00 Musical entertainment.
Piazza Duomo
15:00 Parade of allegorical carts, masked groups and isolated masks.
22:00 Music show.
Piazza Duomo
23:30 Awards ceremony for the various competing competitions.
24:00 See you at the Flower Festival.
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References
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