This is only a selection of the many events that take place in Venice every year.

January 6th – Epiphany
 Religious festivity and “Befane” Regatta. Traditional Venetian music, distribution of sweets, mulled wine for all watching the "Befane" racing on the Canal Grande.

February

Carnival
Events and festivities are organized for a period of about ten days, to be exact those immediately preceding Lent. Music, plays, dance and folklore alternate in the theatres and palaces, while the streets, the canals, the large and small squares become one enormous, joyful stage. Venice’s Carnival together with Viareggio’s is the most famous in Italy.

April

“Su e zo per i ponti»” (Up and down the bridges)
A non competitive foot-race which winds along the narrow streets and crosses almost every district in Venice.

April 25th - "Liberation Day" and "Feast of St. Mark"
Celebrations in honour of Venice’s patron saint that coincide with Liberation Day, Italy’s  liberation from the Nazis at the end of 2nd World War. In Venice the feast is also called "festa del Bocolo": men are presenting their partner and/or women of their family with a long stemmed red rose (called bocolo).

May

May 25th - Vogalonga
International non-competitive rowing-race, taking place in front of St.Mark's Square and Venice Lagoon. This is a 30 Km. non-competitive rowing race in which hundreds of boats of every shape and form, together with hundreds of Venetian and foreign rowers, take part.

June

June 1st – The festivity of the Sensa (Ascension Day)
Revival of the old marriage ceremony of Venice to the sea with a procession of decorated boats. The wedding ceremony between the Doge and the sea (now the mayor plays the role of the Doge).

June 8th -"Whit Sunday" and "Ancient Sea Republics Regatta" Grand Canal
An annual challenge between the four Antique Italian Maritime Republics (Venice, Genoa, Amalfi and Pisa) who take it in turns to organise the event. The race covers 1.800-2.000 metres and in Venice the finish line is opposite Piazzetta S. Marco in the lagoon. The regatta starts with a long pageant of over 300 people wearing costumes of the time, with flags, banners and figurehead horses.

Last week of June - Feast of San Pietro di Castello
Various stands offering traditional Venetian dishes and wine.

August – September

Venice Film Festival
Fiction films, documentaries and short movies are screened, with the prestigious Golden Lion awarded for best film. Various venues.

First Sunday of September – Historic Regatta
Traditional rowing race down the Grand Canal that tests gondoliers’ bravery. Boats are decorated, spirits run high and the competition is fierce.

3rd Sunday of September –  Premio Campiello
A very famous book contest.

October

4th Sunday of October - Venice Marathon.
Official marathon along the Brenta Riviera to Venice; the finish line is in piazza San Marco.

November

Our Lady of Good Health's Day
Religious event in honour of our Lady of Good Health at the Salute Church. It was built in thanks for the city's deliverance from the plague of 1630-31. Today, a procession across the Grand Canal ends at the church, where participants pray for the unwell.