The present year's parade starts again from the historic city center, the Matilde Tower, where it all began in 1873, symbolically and unites the old town symbolically with the the Promenade, where will take place the party.
Canoes and dragon boats will initiate the show at 15:00 h. Along the Burlamacca canal, they will come up to the promenade along Lungomolo Del Greco carrying Burlamacco, Ondina, the Carnival King and Miss Viareggio Carnival. In the aquatic parade will also participate rowing or paddle boats, with single or multiple crews as well as dragon-boats.
The masks will then gather in Piazza Campioni from where the colorful and festive cortege will parade in the direction of Piazza Mazzini. In the parade also take part the bikers of group Tartarughe Lente, whose members for the occasion will wear the Burlamacco mask, the RIVADEJANEIRO group, typical Swiss clique that has chosen to celebrate at the Viareggio Carnival the twentieth anniversary of its foundation and the Flag-Wavers of Palio dei Micci Querceta with twenty elements.
The parade will be enriched by the exceptional contribution of the isolated masks, that are allowed to present to the public in preview. Burlamacco and Ondina will walk at the end of the cortege carrying the flag symbol of the Carnival, accompanied by the aggregation cart and by the mask of the Don Milani group, titled "Masks of Italy", a tribute to the painter Alfredo Catarsini.
In the meantime, from 15:30 Daniele Maffei, the official voice of the Viareggio Carnival, together with dj Andrea Paci and dj Paola Pol will warm up the public gathered in Piazza Mazzini, where will be also set a special circuit for the miniature floats.
Starting at 17:00 h. the following bands and associations will perform on the stage of Piazza Mazzini:
17:00 h. – Dance school Blound Dance with special coreographies dedicated to the Carnival.
17:30 h. – Concert by the Gaudates Junk Band which aims to raise awareness of the territories on the theme of environmental protection and recycling. The band will only play recycled instruments.
18:45 h. – Now it comes to the highlight of the opening ceremony with the official song of Carnval 2017 and winner of the Burlamacco Festival. Following will take place the flag-raising ceremony accompanied by fanfare. At this point in Viareggio will be Carnival until February 28.
VIAREGGIO CARNIVAL – Opening Ceremony
Viareggio, city center and piazza Mazzini
2017 February 4
from 15:00 h. to 19:00 h.
free admission