Events In Venice- The Carnival, Christmas + New Years & St Mark's Day

In Venice, Italy romance reins supreme, and many of their festivities place a sweet touch on couples in love. If you are planning on travelling to Venice for a holiday, consider scheduling your trip during one of their many festivities. This city offers several festivals and events throughout the entire year, ensuring that during nearly every month something spectacular, beautiful or fun is happening.

From rowing competitions held on the canals to major festivals spanning a week or more, there is no shortage of excitement happening on the city streets or waterways here. Some of the most noted events are as follows:

New Year’s

January 1st is a time for celebration in Venice, as it is in most other places across the globe. It is the city itself that makes New Year’s so unique when celebrated here. Be prepared for exciting parties and gathering along the canals and in the waterways. Many locals here celebrate this holiday with fantastic culinary delights and decorations along the canals, and even on the boats.

Carnival

Carnival, or Carnevale as it is known here, is a fantastic ten day celebration that takes place in the days preceding Shrove Tuesday. This is one festivity that is worth scheduling your holiday around. One of the most lively and exciting of the year, the event is marked by several pageants, commedia dell’arte performances, concerts, and of course, the famed masked balls. This long running festival has a special event that is sure to please everyone, and is celebrated in the most beloved Venetian style. This is a great way to truly experience the special culture that is Venice.

Su e zo per i Ponti

This is a most unusual festival that centers around a running marathon. Contestants of this race run the streets of Venice, and up and down the bridges, which is where the name of the event stems from. While joining the marathon may not be a great idea for an individual inexperienced with the streets of the city, it is always entertaining to join the throngs of people who line the streets to watch the runners. This event always takes place on the second Sunday of March.

Saint Mark’s Day

Also known as La Festa del Boccolo (the celebration of the rose bud) this holiday is not only a feast in honor of Venice’s beloved Saint Mark, but celebrates in typical Venetian understated elegance the love between a man and a woman. It is traditional on this day for men to offer women a long stemmed red rose. In addition to the typical celebrations associated with a Saint’s day, there is also a gondola race in Bacina di San Marco. Celebrated on April 25th.

La Sensa

Another favorite of the festivals throughout the year, La Sensa is truly original to the city of Venice. Taking place on the first Sunday after Ascension, this annual ceremony and celebration serves to reaffirm the symbolic marriage between Venice and the Adriatic Sea. On this day, the Mayor travels along with his party by boat to the Lido and drops a gold ring into the sea before going to attend the traditional service at the San Nicolo Church. Spectators of the ring dropping are given the opportunity to dive in after it, and if they manage to find the gold ring they are allowed to keep it and don’t have to pay any state taxes for the following year.

Festa della Redentore

Celebrated on the third Sunday in July, this festival is a particularly spectacular one. Marking the end of the plague in 1577, this event happens at Redentore Church on the Giudecca. Visitors reach the church by crossing a bridge that spans the Giudecca Canal, and is built specially for this event every year. Many people decorate their boats lavishly, and then fill the lagoon to watch a brilliant fireworks display that happens on the previous evening. There are also traditional Venetian feasts held along the waterfront, and dancing on the Lido.

Christmas Market

Campo Santo Stefano which is located near the Accademia Bridge hosts this huge market every December. They offer a fantastic range of products for sale, holiday decorations, and even bakery sweets and Christmas culinary favorites.