Christmas with kids
Candele a Candelara with kids: the candle Christmas festival near Pesaro
Updated 4 November 2026. Candelara is a small village in the hills behind Pesaro, and in the weeks before Christmas it hosts a festival devoted to candles. For children, the magic moment comes when the electric lights are switched off and only the flames are left burning. Here is how to get ready, what was on for little ones in recent years and what to check before you go.
First things first: the 2026 dates
In recent years the festival has taken place over the last two weekends of November and the first two weekends of December. At the time of writing, however, the 2026 calendar has not been confirmed yet. Before planning your evening, check the official programme on the Comune di Pesaro website and on the italia.it event page, where you will find days, times and any changes.
The highlight: the village in the dark
What children remember most is when the electric lighting is switched off: for a few minutes the lanes, small squares and walls are lit only by thousands of candles. According to the programme of recent editions, to be checked, there are two switch-offs, listed at 17:30 and 18:30. Find a quiet spot a few minutes beforehand and keep hold of the youngest: once it goes dark the crowd stops and falls silent, and kids experience it like a little show.
What was on for children in recent editions
The programme changes from year to year, but the latest editions had two areas designed for families:
- The Elves' Workshop (Bottega degli Elfi): wax workshops inside the castle, where children can try shaping the material candles are made of.
- The Winter Village in Santa's Garden, in the Castle Park: handing in the letter to Father Christmas, a photo on the sleigh, old-fashioned games, the nativity scene and pony rides.
Before promising the kids any of these, check that it is confirmed in this year's programme and whether bookings or time slots are needed.
How to plan the afternoon
Arrive in the afternoon, while it is still light. That way children can wander among the stalls and workshops at their own pace, get to know the village and then wait for dark already in place. Turning up at the last minute, in the crowd and the dark, makes everything harder.
Decide in advance how you will get there and where to park. Car parks, any shuttle buses and closed roads are usually announced in the official festival programme: read it before you leave rather than searching for information while stuck in a queue.
Agree on a meeting point. With lots of people and little light it is easy to lose sight of each other: choose an easy-to-recognise spot together with the children.
What to wear and what to pack
- Layers: in the hills the evening air is colder than in town. Hats, gloves and scarves for the kids, who stand still for a while during the switch-off.
- Comfortable shoes: the village has slopes, narrow lanes and uneven paving. Choose soles with good grip, in case the ground is damp.
- Pushchair or not: think it over. Crowds and slopes can make it awkward; with babies and toddlers a sling or baby carrier may work better.
- A small torch or a charged phone: useful on the way back to the car, when the lanes are dark.
- Mind the flames: the candles are real. Tell children not to touch them and keep scarves and long hair well away.
More ideas for kids in Pesaro
If you are staying a few days, you will find activities for the whole family in our guide Pesaro with children: what to do. In autumn and winter a wet day can happen: for that there are the ideas in Pesaro with children on a rainy day, from museums to indoor activities.
Where to stay in Pesaro: Nuovo Fiore
Nuovo Fiore is an apartment at Via Barignani 60, in the historic centre of Pesaro, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a private garage: handy if you drive up to Candelara and come back in the evening. After the cold of the hills, the kids have their own room to rest in.
Frequently asked questions
When is Candele a Candelara in 2026?
The festival usually runs over the last two weekends of November and the first two of December, but the 2026 dates have not been confirmed yet. Check the official programme on the Comune di Pesaro website or on italia.it before you go.
What time do the lights go out in Candelara?
According to the programme of recent editions, to be checked, there were two switch-offs of the electric lighting, at 17:30 and 18:30. Times may change, so confirm them in this year's programme.
Are there activities for children?
Recent editions had the Elves' Workshop with wax workshops in the castle and the Winter Village in Santa's Garden, in the Castle Park, with the letter to Father Christmas, a sleigh photo, old-fashioned games, a nativity scene and pony rides. Check that they are confirmed this year.
Should we bring a pushchair?
It depends on the child's age. The village has slopes and narrow lanes and gets very busy at peak times, so a pushchair can be awkward: for the youngest a sling or baby carrier may be more practical.
Where do you park for Candelara?
Information on parking, any shuttle buses and closed roads is usually published in the official festival programme. Read it before leaving Pesaro so you already know where to go.
Read also: Nuovo Fiore · Pesaro with children · Pesaro with children on a rainy day