Among the most interesting events in Zakynthos, it is particularly important to mention the two-week long carnival that takes place in the city in the middle of August. As the island was a part of the Venetian Republic for a long time, the tradition of celebrating Venetian Carnival is still alive. However, the carnival in Zakynthos has several peculiarities – locals dress as characters from Commedia dell'arte, Dialogues, Venetian Wedding, and make a procession on the city’s streets. The celebration ends with a satirical performance that has a symbolic name – the Funeral of the Mask. It is a fantastic opportunity to participate in an ancient celebration.
Besides that, there is one more carnival that starts in February (it can start at the beginning, in the middle or the end of the month depending on the Lent). Colorful and festival processions appear on the main streets of the city. Among participants, there are both children and adults. This carnival also has much in common with the Venetian Carnival, and the reason is still the same – the region was once under the reign of Venice. This is a fabulous time when visitors of all ages can easily find something interesting and exciting. Different contests, trivia, cycling competitions, and theatre performances seem to never stop during the popular event. The carnival traditionally ends with a special activity called Povero.
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