Carnevale Festivals Of Italy This Summer At The Venetian & The Palazzo
CARNEVALE, a three-month celebration of the summer festivals of Italy, will come alive with Italian fantasy, food, fun and romance at The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas, May 27 through Sept. 8, 2013. Based on the highly successful premier in 2012, the festival will be expanded to feature 300 experiences throughout the summer, including many exclusively for The Venetian and The Palazzo guests and Grazie members.
Illuminata by The Projection Studio
CARNEVALE is inspired by the numerous festivals, which grace the small villages and towns of Italy, throughout summer. The grandest of them all, Venice’s CARNEVALE, was born in 1162, and is heralded as one of Europe’s greatest celebrations of art, food and culture.
“The magic of CARNEVALE is never knowing what unexpected surprise is around the corner,†said John Caparella, president and chief operating officer of The Venetian, The Palazzo and Sands Expo. “CARNEVALE offers the perfect place unmask your inner artist, adventurer, foodie and romantic.â€
In that tradition, wonder and revelry will surround guests at The Venetian and The Palazzo resorts, with activities that center around entertainment, art, fashion, games, sports, music and wine. From visual spectacles to themed characters and unexpected surprises around every corner, guests will be wrapped up in the pageantry that is CARNEVALE.
Lighted Costumed Character
Special Value for Overnight Guests
The “Passaporto di CARNEVALE †will be included with overnight stays throughout CARNEVALE featuring special discounts and entertainment specials valued at more than $1,000, including retail offers from resort restaurants, spa and The Grand Canal Shoppes. The Passaporto is an exclusive benefit to resort guests. During CARNEVALE, members of Grazie, The Venetian and The Palazzo’s premier loyalty program, can continue to earn valued Status Points with all suite charges by linking a Grazie account to suite reservations.
Special Fun and Activities
Guests visiting during CARNEVALE will enjoy a calendar of special events, activities and promotions, including nightly entertainment spectacles.
Daily events will include:
Ciao Bella! The Carnevale Welcome Reception: Join us for a nightly reception in your honor featuring live music, character photo ops, mixology lessons and other surprises!
The Masquerade – A Cavalcade of Carnevalean Characters: Join in the fun as our nightly show unfolds, with our elaborately costumed masked characters, celebrating the romance, mystery and artistry of the historic Venice festival.
Cocktails Unmasked – A Summer of Mixology at The Venetian: Your nightly opportunity to try something new! Every week, we will spotlight a new spirit, and will present a new mixed drink every night for guests to try. (Guests staying at the resort will receive drink coupons at check in).
Light of Venice – A 3D Light Projection Fantasy: The façade of The Venetian is the canvas for a 3D fantasy of light and music, featuring state-of-the-art digital mapping technology.
Veni, Vidi, Vino – The Carnevale Wine Walk – If every time you drink red wine, you end up getting a cab… this is the activity for you! This is your chance to stop and smell the rosé! Grab a map and explore the best “by the glass†Italian wines of The Venetian and The Palazzo.
The Neon Olympiad – Party Like it’s 1988! – Join our VJ at the Bourbon Room every night, to participate in an ‘80s-inspired party. Participate and you can win Carnevale prizes.
Dance Through the Decades – ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s live on stage! – Nowhere on the planet can you enjoy the best music of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s through live musical theater… in one place! Enjoy smooth harmonies of ‘60s Motown in HUMAN NATURE, the groovy tunes of the ‘70s in PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL, and the anthems of the ‘80s in ROCK OF AGES LAS VEGAS.
National Geographic 50 Greatest Photos: The Venetian Imagine Gallery features a special exhibition with the story behind the 50 greatest photos from the photographers of National Geographic. As a special bonus for Carnevale, the gallery will feature a photo display of photos from Venice’s Carnevale, taken by photographers of the prestigious magazine.
Sushi Fever Fridays: Join the chefs of Sushi Samba as they demonstrate how to make sushi. Later Friday night, stop by the restaurant for SUSHI SAMBA & SAKE, a special late-night event from 10pm until 2am.
Fashion Showcase: Our retail partners from Grand Canal Shoppes share their latest styles. (1 – 3pm, Palazzo Waterfall Atrium: Billionaire Italian Couture – June 13; Canyon Beachware – June 20; Bikini Bay – July 4; DVF – July 18; Banana Republic – August 1; RYU – August 22.)
Honeymooners “Sweetheart†Reception: Exclusively for honeymooners, new couples and couples celebrating their anniversaries. (7pm, Venezia Pool; June 25, July 23, August 20)
Other Carnevale fun, scheduled at various times throughout the run of CARNVEVALE:
- Live music, including poolside concerts
Wine tastings and winemaker’s dinners
Table game lessons
Ping pong lounge
Carnevale cocktails
Art display and photo ops
Cooking classes and culinary demos
Synchronized swimming demos
Horticulture tours
Culinary demos
Guest speakers
Streetmosphere shows at Grand Canal Shoppes
3D chalk artist (June 11-18)
DeepStack Extravaganza poker tournament (May 23- July 21)
Celebrity appearances
Comedy shows featuring Joan Rivers, Rita Rudner, Tim Allen, and David Spade
Wheel of Fortune tapings
Special Canyon Ranch SpaClub treatments in honor of CARNEVALE
Madame Tussauds “how do they do that†workshops
Pizza-eating contests
Special Weekends (Details, packages and dates coming soon):
A Taste of Italy Weekend (featuring Mario Batali; June 1) The dynamic team behind B+B and Carnevino present a special experience for foodies. The weekend’s signature event will feature interactive elements at several stations, including Italian salumeria, pasta station, meat station, dessert station, and more. (Noon – 5pm; $60 per person, Palazzo Waterfall Atrium)
Sammy Hagar Tiki Pool Party Weekend (with barbecue by Emeril Lagasse; June 8 Get ready for the party of the summer as Sammy Hagar brings the Wabos to Vegas to throw the Tiki bash to end all Tiki bashes! This is the ultimate mash up of barbecue by acclaimed chef Emeril Lagasse with a performance by Sammy & The Wabos, all in the world’s largest Five Diamond resort. Savor every bite of Emeril’s signature barbecue while sipping signature cocktails poolside. (7:30pm; Concert: $55 plus tax per person, suite package available; Grand Pools of the Venetian)

Tignanello Vertical Wine Dinner & Weekend (June 28) This was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first red wine to be blended with non-traditional varieties (like Cabernet) and one of the first Chianti reds not to use white grapes. Tignanello is a milestone. It is made from a selection of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged in barriques for about 12 months and for a further 12 months in the bottles. This dinner is going to be excellent! ($200 per person, suite package available.)
Passion for Cabernet Weekend (July 25) Your Carnevale experience includes a special wine dinner, featuring the rare opportunity to dine with Marcus Notaro (winemaker Col Salare) and Glenn Salva (Estate Manager at Antica). ($200 per person, suite package available.)
Curtis Stone Up-Close & Personal Weekend (July 26-27) Fans of this Australian chef (host of “Top Chef Mastersâ€) will have an opportunity to taste recipes from his latest cookbook at this “pop up†Curtis Stone restaurant, featuring a five-course tasting menu with wine pairing. Experience also includes a Champagne reception, photo op, and an autographed book. (6pm; $200 per person, suite package available.)
Giro D’Italia Wine and Food Walk (August 9) Celebrate “Tour de Italy†with a special wine- and food-themed event held throughout Grand Canal Shoppes, featuring food and wine booths. (Tickets: $29 plus tax)
Cheer for Beer Festival (August 17) Spend the afternoon at AZURE, our luxury pool at The Palazzo, where we celebrate the drink we all love – beer! (Tickets: $29 per tax)
World’s Largest Bachelorette Party Weekend (July 19-21) This summer, TAO Group is calling on all Bachelorettes to attend what promises to be the World’s Largest Bachelorette Party taking place in Las Vegas at TAO®, LAVO® and TAO BEACH in The Venetian and The Palazzo. Hundreds of brides to be and their friends will be celebrating their nuptials with one last wild weekend in Vegas!
Ping Pong Challenge Weekend (dates and details TBD)
Havana Nights Weekend (dates and details TBD)
Photo credit: Courtesy
Bill Cody is an entertainment, technology and luxury travel reporter in Las Vegas. He reports on celebrities, events, tech, food, Las Vegas and luxury travel.