CARNIVAL OF VENICE 2018 - Carnevale di Venezia 2024

FROM JANUARY 27 TO FEBRUARY 13, 2018

Carnival of Venice 2018
CREATUM - CIVITAS LUDENS

The theme that brings together the rich program of initiatives of the 2018 edition of Venice Carnival is: Creatum, Civitas Ludens. The City of Playing. Playing has an important role in primary socialization and in building adult identities; playing is common to man and all animals and comes in a variety of different forms depending on the various age in life. Therefore, forms of playing such as disguising, inventing, changing identity up to its most articulated and complex expression like entertainment, theatre, music, art and the circus.

For the occasion, St. Mark’s Square and Piazza Ferretto will turn into a great circus, one of the oldest forms of entertainment, made of amazement, skill and magic, where there is a mix of settings, roles, skills and imagination, play and school.

In fact, the scenography designed by the set designer of the La Fenice Theatre, Massimo Checchetto is inspired by this tradition, which will be celebrated by several elements from the Togni Italian circus, used by film director Federico Fellini in his movie “La Strada”.

VENETIAN FESTIVAL ON WATER – PART ONE

Wavents presents “veCIRCOonda” where “VE” is the deep bond with the city of Venice, “CIRCO” means “Circus” and is the theme of this year’s event, and “WAVE” is the extraordinary nature of a performance on water that originates from and lives on the waves. To tell all of this, Wavents takes a look through Federico Fellini’s eyes, who was a great admirer of the magic of the circus and portrayed this world in his films.

VENETIAN FESTIVAL ON WATER – PART TWO

A water parade that will be departing from Punta della Dogana and arriving at Rio di Cannaregio where the food and wine stands will be open.
With the collaboration of: Coordinamento Associazioni Remiere di Voga alla Veneta and AEPE.
This will be the first year of the Colombine Regatta – a women’s sprint regatta on gondolini in Rio di Cannaregio organized by the Associazione Regatanti Venezia Association.

THE FLIGHTS IN ST. MARK’S SQUARE

FLIGHT OF THE ANGEL

The exciting flight of the Carnival Angel, Elisa Costantini, will officially open the Carnival celebrations in St. Mark’s Square. The 2018 Angel costume is made by Atelier Stefano Nicolao.

FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE

A surprise by Renzo Rosso.

MARKS’ SQUARE – Civitas Ludens

The big stage, designed by Massimo Checchetto, set designer of the Teatro la Fenice Theatre, will be renewed for the 2018 edition, with a magnificent scenography inspired by the circus. PRESENTATION: COMPAGNIA PANTAKIN VENEZIA with the participation of Prince Maurice Agosti.

MESTRE CARNIVAL STREET SHOW

The streets of Mestre will come alive with spectacular street art, from the enthralling wild music of marching bands to the entertaining shows of clowns and the astonishing performances of circus art.

JACK HILL AND MRS. HIGH, OFFICIAL DINNER AND BALL OF THE CARNIVAL OF VENICE 2018

In a gothic atmosphere at Ca ‘Vendramin Calergi, a majestic building on the Grand Canal, home to the Casino, the official dinner and ball of Venice Carnival 2018: “JACK HILL and Mrs. HIGH” will be taking place. The exciting artistic performances of Nuart, the entertainment of Prince Maurice, the costumes of Atelier Pietro Longhi, the breath-taking view of the Grand Canal are the ingredients of an evening where dancers, musicians, artists and actors create an atmosphere of fun and folly, improvisation and role changing. Dinner in the halls will be accompanied by live performances and, after midnight, there will be live music and a DJ-set with cocktail bar.

FLIGHT OF THE DONKEY

In Mestre the traditional Flight of the Donkey will again this year di an impression of the flight of the Eagle from St. Mark’s bell tower.

The donkey, which has been specially created for the Venice Carnival by the artists of Molino Rosenkranz, will be accompanied by the athletes of the Associazione Sportiva Spes di Mestre sports club, who will be presenting their 2017 national champions for the occasion: Filippo Castellaro, Nicolò Mazzocato and Stefano Patron. The Flight is preceded by the “Carnival Ice Show” at the skating rink by the Ghiaccio Spettacolo artists and followed by the procession of the 12 Marie of the Carnival.

FESTA DELLE MARIE

The winner of the 2018 edition of the Festa delle Marie is Erika Chia, a 19-year-old university student. The coronation will be taking place in St. Mark’s Square with an appointment for Erika to be the Angel of next year’s Carnival of Venice 2019.

LIDO IN LOVE

Lido in Love, a series of initiatives dedicated to all lovers in the magical atmosphere of the Lido di Venezia. The Gran Viale and piazza S. Maria Elisabetta welcome those who are in love from all over the world.

CULTURAL PROGRAM

Alongside the various street performances in the squares, there will be a rich program of cultural events organized by Stefano Karadjov in museums, libraries, theatres, archives and music halls of the City, which are mostly free: a Carnival guidebook for citizens and guests, to visit places they have never seen before, to discover an artistically exuberant and vibrant city in the over 150 scheduled events, with over 300 artists involved in theatrical plays, concerts, workshops, dramatized visits to all the main public and private institutions in the City.