Summer Carnival of Grado

The carnival that arrives in summer

Grado, the Island of the Sun nestled in the lagoon between sea and sky, turns the calendar upside down every year and celebrates carnival in the height of summer. For over twenty years, the Summer Carnival has been one of the most beloved events of the Grado season: a grand popular festival that brings the energy, colours, and fantasy of carnival parades to July evenings, with the sea as its backdrop.

Organised as part of the event calendar of the Grado Turismo Consortium, the Summer Carnival attracts participants and spectators from all over the region, transforming the historic centre of the seaside town into an open-air stage.

The parade through the streets and the harbour

The procession begins in the evening, around 9:00 PM, from the Schiusa island, the small island connected to the centre. From here, the parade winds along the harbour banks and crosses some of the most characteristic streets of Grado's historic centre, through the alleys that tell the Venetian and lagoon soul of the town.

Numerous floats and costumed groups from all over Friuli-Venezia Giulia take part in the parade, accompanied by about a thousand costumed participants. The free theme allows for creativity: from representations of local folklore to more modern and international themes, each float is a small work of ingenuity and joy.

A festival for the whole family

Amidst music, dancing, and the enthusiasm of the crowd, the Summer Carnival creates an engaging atmosphere, perfect for families and holidaymakers. It is one of those events that encapsulate the festive spirit of Grado and which, now rooted in the island's summer tradition, marks one of the most anticipated moments of the bathing season each year.