Venice Special Events
1 January
A chilly swim in the Lido.
Lido
Carnivale
February/March (10 days leading up to Shrove Tuesday)
Famous carnival culminating in an exclusive masked ball and mass dancing for the locals and suitably attired tourists.
St Mark's Square and other venues
Website: www.carnevale.venezia.it
Festa di San Marco
Late April
Gondola race in honour of the city's patron saint.
Sant'Elena to Punta della Dogana
La Sensa
Ascension Day, May
Re-enactment by the city's mayor of the Marriage to the Sea ceremony, first performed by the Doge Pietro Orseolo, who sailed out into the lagoon and cast a golden ring into the sea.
Venetian Lagoon
Vogalonga
Sunday following Ascension Day, May
A 32km (20-mile) boat race from St Mark's Square to the island of Burano involving any rowing vessel and any number of crew.
Venetian Lagoon
Website: www.vogalonga.com
Palio delle Antiche Repubbliche Marinare
June
Four teams in traditional costume take to the waters to battle to protect their commercial interests.
Palio of the Old Maritime Republics, Venetian Lagoon
Festa del Redentore
Third weekend in July
Venetians celebrate their deliverance from the plague of 1526, with a pontoon of boats, fireworks display and picnics on the water.
Giudecca Canal, from Sant'Elena to Punta della Dogana to the Palladio's Redentore church
Venice Film Festival
August-September
One of the world's leading film festivals.
Palazzo del Cinema, Lido
Website: www.labiennale.org
Regata Storica (Historic Regatta)
First Sunday in September
Procession of historic vessels along the Grand Canal, followed by a race between the city's top oarsmen and gondoliers.
Grand Canal
Venice Marathon
October
A marathon that has been going strong for over two decades.
Website: www.venicemarathon.it
Festa Di San Martino
Mid November
Children patrol the streets in trick-or-treat style.
City centre
Festa della Salute
Mid November
The church of good health was built to celebrate the passing of the plague of 1630. A pontoon is built across the Grand Canal to the Church of Madonna della Salute.
Church of Madonna della Salute
Tours of Venice
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