VENICE BEACH — The fifth annual Venice Carnevale today promises to be one “spook-tacular” extravaganza.
One of Venice’s largest beach events, modeled after the renowned religious festival in its namesake Italian city, is taking a different tact this year, as it’s being staged five months after its customary May date.
With the holiday of monsters,ghosts and all things creepy just around the corner,Carnevale organizers hope this year’s fete will inspire event-goers to spice up their wardrobes.
“It’s a costume festival, so we thought we should hold it around Halloween because it’s the time of year when everyone is thinking about getting into costume,” said event producer Esquire Jauchem.
Carnevale, now seen as a Mardi Gras-like event that Venetians can call their own, lures thousands of people each year, though it was originally intended to be a small neighborhood block party.
The residents of Rose Avenue decided to model the party after Carnevale in Italy — a religious festival staged in February,when participants dress in costume for up to a week. The organizers first held the event in May to disassociate itself from the religious aspect of its Italian counterpart. The month of February is also the rainiest in Venice Beach.
The first event was held on beach property adjacent to the Waterfront Cafe, before organizers managed to have Rose Avenue blocked off. Hopes for a small party were soon dashed as 25 bands performed and more than 1,000 people partied on.
The crowd’s size has doubled in each subsequent year, with organizers anticipating between 8,000 and 10,000 people this weekend.
This year’s Carnevale will take over the five streets that intersect Winward Circle, forming the shape of a bicycle wheel with each spoke being a designated area for different activities. Liquor consumption will be restricted to the Waterfront Cafe’s Beer Garden.
Estimated to cost close to $80,000, Venice Carnevale promises to be bigger, better and more profitable this time around, with event organizers obtaining a liquor license for the first time.
In fact, difficulties in acquiring the alcohol permit proved a primary factor in delaying this year’s Carnevale until October, said Jauchem.
After barely breaking even in each of the past four years, Carnevale appears ready to reap profits for its organizers this year. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Heal the Bay, a Santa Monica-based nonprofit dedicated to cleaning California coastal waters and watersheds.
Once again, there will be a costume competition, a classic car show (or “concorso venezia” as it is called in Italian), good food, and a long list of entertainers who will perform everything from blues to reggae on three different stages.
“We try to have a variety and an eclectic mixture of everything,” said Miriam More, who books the entertainment.
Burning Man festival favorite, Inferno Inc., will close the event with a Halloween-like pyrotechnic performance.
Kathy Leonardo, of Venice, has performed in Carnevale since the first event in 2002. The singer-songwriter describes her music as “strong-woman blues”... with a bit of comedy.
“I have a very big voice, but I’m a tiny little girl,” joked the redhead, who performs in a cable TV sketch comedy show called “The Ground Floor.”
“I’ll be the one out there with a tutu and pink bow and acting all crazy and having a good time,” Leonardo said. “I’ll be in the (Beer Garden) with all the drinkers.”
Venice Carnevale runs from noon until 10 p.m. on Winward Circle. Admission is free.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 28, 2006. Read the original PDF.