Venice Carnival 2009 Sensation - complete events

Venetian Party

A cloured and funny big party in Cannaregio, with the partecipation of the Venice Rowing Club spectacualr water parade and district's gastronomic dedicated to taste.

Sunday 14 February from 11:am Cannaregio district

Carnival in darkness 2009

This very special Carnival Party is held totally in the dark to intesify all the senses especially touch. Admission charged

From Saturday 14 February  onward everyday from 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Castello district

Special Children's  costume contest

Special contest to find the best children's (up to 12 years-old) maslked costume and includes the entire city, the islands and all the various Municipalities.

Special children's opening celebrations - Saturday 14 February, 3.00 pm St. Mark's Square

Costume qualifying heats begins Monday 16 February 3:00 pm

Award ceremony for the best costume Saturday 21 February 3.00 pm

Volo della colombina

One of the best-loved Venice carnival event, an ancient tradition with an exciting guest-star. The celebrity "flies" from the Torre del Campanile reaching the ground.

The event is accompained by the Doge and Dogaressa's historical parade.

Sunday 15 February 12:00 am St. Mark's Square

"Marie's Festivity"

Seven venetian girls parade in a coloured and rich line, accompanied by historcal traditional groups. The parade leaves, as usual, from San Pietro di Castello, and cross the city until reaches St. Mark's Square.

The prize for the winning "Maria" will be awarded on Tuesday 24 February.

Sunday 15 February 3:00 pm

Historical Recallings

A period costume festival and street artists that fills the town with colours, dance, theatre acts and ancient costumes.

Sunday 15 February, from 3:00 pm onwards, Piazzetta San Marco

Saturday 21 February, from 18:00 pm onwards Piazzetta San Marco

Sunday 22 February, from 3:00 pm onwards Piazzetta San Marco

Dorsoduro and music

A permanent  afternoon show organised by ALL MUSIC is located in Campo Santa Margherita, wheras the heart of night-time music and entertainment  is the Stazione Marittima. Medeval and seventeenth century acoustic music sessions are held in Campo San Barnaba.

ALL MUSIC show from Thursday 19 to Tuesday 24 February 3:00 pm Campo Santa Margherita

Opening Party - Saturday 14 february from 11:00 pm Stazione Marittima

Music Party from Thursday 19 to Tuesday 24 from 23:00 Stazione Marittima

Medieval and seventeenth century acoustic music sessions -  from Thursday 19 to Tuesday 24 February, 9:00 pm onwards, Campo San Barnaba

San Polo, Sight for children and young People

Campo San Polo will be the ultimate Children's Carnival location including lights, masks workshops and friendly, entertaining performers all round the square.

Campo San Polo will be the ultimate Children's Carnival location including lights, masks workshops and friendly, entertaining performers all round the square.

Campo Bella Vienna, on the other hand, will come alive at sunset with soft music, LED installations and lights shows that combine to make sight the sense that decides the rhythm of the evening.

For small children from Thursday 19 to Tuesday 24 February from 3:00 pm onwards, Campo San Polo

For children from Thursday 19 to Tuesday 24 February 9:00 pm Campo bella Vienna

Cannaregio, The kingdom of taste

At a specially designed locaiton, great chefs put on spectacluar culinary show and even give away some of their secrets, while food artists create food and chocolate sculptures.

From Thursday 19 to Tuesday 24 February, every day, the Cannareggio district.

Santa Croce The "Smell" District

A vast street theater show pays tribute to this sense through special effects, such as Odorama.  From Thursday 19 to Tuesday 24 February, from 3 pm onwards, Santa Croce.

Drag Queen Beauty Pageant

The most beautiful European Drag Queens are arriving to Venice as the most coloured and funny Beauty Pageant returns to Venice

Friday 20 February 9:00 pm Piazza san Marco

The best Carnival costume contest 2009

Elaborate masks, innovative  costumes, taste and originally are the winning factors in the spectacular 2009 costume contest.

Qualifying parades: Friday 20 and Saturday 21 February 3:00 pm St. Mark's Square

Contest and award ceremony: Sunday 22 February, 3:00 pm Piazza San Marco

The fly of the donkey

The event, that has packed out Mestre's Piazza Ferretto in recent years, is a parody of the Venetian Volo dell' Angelo. A guest-star will pretend to be the 2009 Carnival "donkey" and he "flies" down from the municipal tower to the ground. Real donkeys fill the center of the town, bringing joy, surprise and happiness in the 2009 carnival.

Sunday 22 February from 12:00 onwards Piazza Ferretto, Mestre