Halloween Celebration Carnival 2026:
A night of legends, circus, and spectacle at the Villa Reale di Marlia.
I was invited to the press conference that presented the program of Halloween Celebration Carnival And I left there with a very clear impression: if you are in Lucca or Tuscany on October 31st, it's worth setting aside this evening on your calendar.
Not Saturday, October 31, 2026, a Royal Villa of MarliaThe town of Capannori will once again be transformed into a huge stage for the 32nd edition of the event. 4 PM to 2 AMThe park's 16 hectares will be occupied by more than 500 artists, four circus tents, live music, performances, parades, folk traditions, installations, gastronomy, and a grand pyrotechnic show over the lake.
This Halloween is very different from the conventional image of the holiday. Here, the experience is immersive and takes place within one of the most interesting historical settings in the Lucca region. The organizers themselves present the Halloween Celebration as the first and largest Halloween festival in Italy, now in its 32nd edition.
A press conference held within the event itself.
The press conference took place this Friday, October 23rd, at Lemon Garden, one of the spaces at Villa Reale that, in a few days, will be integrated into the atmosphere of the Halloween Celebration.
Being there, with the garden still at its usual pace, made it easy to imagine the transformation that is about to happen. In a few hours, a historic and seemingly tranquil space will give way to an experience that brings together hundreds of artists, music, circus, theater, characters, installations, and thousands of visitors.
The following people were present at the program's presentation. Stefano Nannizzi, artistic director of the Halloween Celebration Carnival, Michela Fovanna, responsible for Villa Reale, Jordan Del Chiaro, preferred by the Municipality of Capannori and Nicholas Lucchesi, president of Lucca Crea. O TuscanyLucca He was present at the invitation of the organization.
And the numbers help to understand the scale of the event.
They will be more than 500 artistsscattered across 16 hectares of the park, with four circus tents, nine DJ points and seven covered spaces, designed so that the program can continue even in case of bad weather. The gastronomic area will also have more than 20 street food stalls, with options ranging from Tuscan to Indian, Mexican and international cuisine, including gluten-free alternatives.
For those who have experienced Halloween in another country, a word of warning: the format here is different. It's a grand event: ten hours inside a historic property, with circus, live music, parades, theater and fireworks.
What will happen: Circus, music and a whole night of shows.
One of the most striking characteristics of the Halloween Celebration Carnival is precisely its variety.
The four circus tents will host performances by Atlantis Circus, Grioni and Krom before they transform into stages for the nighttime programming. Also returning is the Blink Circus, who has been touring Europe for over four years, this time with the Imaginary, a miniature art exhibition installed in the lake area.
Another attraction is the Circus of Clocks, from the Steampunk Evolution Company, in addition to traveling bands, fire artists, street art, theater, historical reenactments, and dance. For those who enjoy different experiences, this year's novelty is the Escape Car, a timed escape room set up inside a car.
In terms of music, the program spans different universes, from garage rock to metal, punk, electronic, and math rock. Among the announced names are... Animaux Formidables, Gli Atroci, No Good, Zebra TSO, Fiesta Alba, HER, Gaudats Junk Band, Hot Cherry and Manolo Strimpelli Nait OrkestraThere are nine DJ booths scattered throughout the park, creating a program that takes place simultaneously in different areas of the property.
At midnight, the programming arrives at Scuderia, the old stables of the Villa Reale, where it begins the Dance Macabre, which continues until 2 AM.
Halloween meets the legends of Lucca.
It is precisely here that, for me, the event takes on a particularly interesting dimension. The Halloween Celebration does not simply import symbols and characters from the international Halloween imagination. There is a clear attempt to bring the program closer to the stories, myths, and traditions of the Lucca region.
This year, the new folkloric feature is the official presentation of the Witches of Lucca and Garfagnana, a group created by Halloween Celebration and Loga Studio to celebrate ancient traditions and myths of the Lucca region. The Krampus They will also be back.
It's a combination that makes perfect sense in Lucca: a large-scale, contemporary festival built on international references, but which also seeks to reclaim and showcase elements of the local imagination.
Lucida Mansi and the night of The Wrath of Lucifer
Among the most anticipated moments is Lucid Night, a show inspired by the legendary Lucida Mansi, a figure deeply connected to the collective imagination of Lucca.
In the performance, Lucida Mansi symbolically emerges from hell accompanied by Satan, at the Clock Tower, and begins a procession through the park towards the property's lawns.
That's when the fireworks display begins. The Wrath of LuciferCreated by master pyrotechnician Diego Bertoli Barsotti, the show takes place over the lake and is presented by the organizers as one of the highlights of the evening. At the end of the performance, Lucida concludes her tragic journey by disappearing into the lake's waters.
And there's yet another way to experience all of this: a hot air balloon. Mongolfiera des Mirages It rises above the park, offering a panoramic view of the Villa Reale and the lights of the region.
For those who enjoy cosplay and pop culture.
The world of cosplay will also be present. In collaboration with... Lucca Comics & Gamesthe event receives the Black Parade da HC Cosplay, supervised by Massimiliano Poggi, bringing together cosplay and horror performers in one of the night's major events.
This is yet another element that brings the Halloween Celebration closer to the cultural universe that, for years, has made Lucca an international meeting point for fans of comics, games, fantasy, and pop culture.
And what about those traveling with children?
Despite the nighttime setting and some darker attractions, the event was also designed for families.
The program starts at 4 PM with shows by Ridolina and Clown Compass, origami workshops led by Silvia Talassi and the TruccaCorner, makeup space.
At 6 PM, the parade starts. Jack, the Pumpkin King, towards Jack's World, The Pumpkin Road, an area especially dedicated to the world of Jack and pumpkins.
Therefore, for those with children, arriving in the early afternoon can be a good strategy to enjoy the family-friendly programming before Villa Reale transforms into the event's grand nighttime scene.
Practical information:
Data: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Time: from 4 PM to 2 AM
Local: Royal Villa of Marlia, Capannori, Lucca
Schedule: Over 500 artists, four circus tents, nine DJ booths, seven covered areas, and more than 20 street food stalls.
Tickets: available on the event's official website
The organizers report that the existence of seven covered spaces allows them to maintain the program even in case of bad weather.
The full program and tickets are available on the official Halloween Celebration website: halloweencelebration.it
A Villa Reale transformed for Halloween.
One of the aspects that most contributes to the event's atmosphere is the setting itself. The Giardino dei Limoni, the Grotta di Pan, the Teatro di Verzura forest, the Fiera di Lombroso, and the Via dei Consulti are all part of the ambiance, creating different hubs within the property's gardens. There are even spaces dedicated to divination and a market conceived as a kind of fair for "mortal strangers."
It is this combination of historical architecture, gardens, lighting, music, characters, and spectacle that makes the event more than just a conventional Halloween party.
For a few hours, Villa Reale becomes a completely different territory.
My tip for anyone in Lucca
If you plan to participate, I wouldn't leave the decision until the last minute. The program starts at 4 PM and only ends at 2 AM, so it's worth thinking of the evening as a complete experience, not just a show to watch at a specific time. To make the most of it, I would arrive early, choose some attractions I don't want to miss beforehand, and leave time to simply walk around the park and discover what's happening in each area.
And above all, bring a good coat. We're talking about a late October night and many hours outdoors.
For me, the most interesting thing about the Halloween Celebration Carnival is precisely this possibility of looking at the region from a different angle. Among the circus, the music, the cosplay, and the grand spectacles, there also appear characters, stories, and references that belong to Lucca's collective imagination.
If you're going to be in the region on October 31st, it can be a rather unique way to experience Tuscany: not only through its landscapes and historic cities, but also through its legends, traditions, characters, and the imagination that continues to be part of the local culture.
Images: Giuseppe Panico, Roberto Flori and personal collection.
The Halloween Celebration Carnival is just the beginning of what happens in the region at the end of October and in November. Check out the ToscanaLucca cultural agenda, updated weekly with events worth your time.
