The traditional fireworks show returns to Venice, while in Piazza Ferretto, Mestre, Radio Company will make the audience dance and welcome the arrival of the new year.

Photo:Vela Spa Press Office

Vela Spa is promoting New Year's Eve 2023 on behalf of the Municipal Administration in partnership with the Camera di Commercio Venezia e Rovigo and the Consorzio di tutela Prosecco DOC. The event offers a variety of options suitable for people of all ages, including both citizens and visitors.

New Year's Eve in Venice will be crowned by a breath-taking fireworks display. At midnight, the Bacino San Marco will light up with an exciting and suggestive scenery created to welcome the most anticipated night of the year. Parente Fireworks, a historic local company that has illuminated prestigious public and private events for over a century, including the spectacular fireworks display at the Festival of the Redentore.

The fireworks display will last approximately twenty minutes. The display will consist of a series of scenes that will follow rapidly and be interspersed with closures and more significant interludes. The display will build up to a grand finale, that will paint the sky with a multitude of lights and fireworks effects. The choreography will be intense and leave a long-lasting impression, to welcome 2024.

To enjoy the fireworks, the best places are near the Arsenale and along Riva degli Schiavoni, Riva Ca' di Dio, Riva San Biagio, Riva dei Sette Martiri, while the fireworks cannot be seen from Piazza and Piazzetta San Marco. At 11:30 pm, there will be a few individual fireworks, and the stewards will invite the public to position themselves along the waterfront. Access gates to the viewing areas will be set up, and security checks will be carried out as capacity is limited.

To make it easier for people to reach the historic centre and watch the show, additional runs will be organised on the main routes on the evening of 31 December, as well as for the exodus at the end of the fireworks display.

Photo:Vela Spa Press Office

In Mestre, the celebrations will revolve around the music of Radio Company, the radio that makes the squares of the north-east dance. DJ Ale De Biasi and speaker Viviana Rapisarda will lead the 'Wonder Company' event on the stage of Piazza Ferretto at 10:00 pm. Radio Company's DJs will provide entertainment for the last night of the year and welcome 2024 with music, fun, and gadgets.

RedMoon band will perform live on stage with a perfect mix of music and entertainment. Their repertoire blends dance with rock and pop, featuring great classics of disco music from the '70s-'80s, but also current dance music, as well as Italian songs that have made people dance and have fun over the years.

At midnight, the Radio Company team will join the audience in a symbolic toast with the bubbles of the Consorzio di tutela Prosecco DOC.

The Toniolo Theater is offering two opportunities to celebrate with a joyful performance. The Gran Gala du Cirque will be staged on Saturday, December 31 at 9:30 pm and on Sunday, January 1 at 6:00 pm. This new and exciting show features some of the best contemporary circus performers in the world. The show combines intense poetry and great comedy.

The first day of the new year will open with the traditional New Year’S Concert of La Fenice Opera House, conducted by Maestro Fabio Luisi. As usual, the concert will be broadcast live on Rai 1. The concert will feature a selection of arias, duets, and choral passages performed by renowned soloists and the Chorus of La Fenice. The concert is divided into two parts, the first being exclusively orchestral and the second dedicated to Opera. The performance will end with two famous pieces by Giuseppe Verdi: the Chorus 'Va' pensiero sull’ali dorate' from Nabucco and the festive toast 'Libiam ne’ lieti calici' from La traviata.

The new year will begin with the traditional “dive” in the waters of the Lido di Venezia. This event is in its 43rd edition and is promoted by the Ibernisti del Lido Group, with support from the Municipality of Venice through Vela spa. Participants will gather on the beach in front of the Blue Moon at 12:00 pm on Monday, January 1rst to greet 2024 with a plunge. The group of daring Ibernisti gather to sail the calm waters of the Lido, whether the weather is sunny or cloudy. At the exit from the sea, they are greeted with refreshments that offer a menu typical of the first day of the year, including lentils, cotechino, and other gastronomic specialties. The event is open to the public, and there are children's animation programs at 11:15 am and a dedicated show at 12:15 pm..