Shannon Interian

In 2018, I found myself swept up in one of the most surreal, intoxicating, and theatrical experiences of my life—the Venice Carnival. I had always heard about it—those hauntingly elegant masks, the gondolas slicing through misty canals, the piazzas pulsing with music and velvet capes. But nothing prepared me for the magic of actually being there.The entire city transforms. From the narrow alleys to St. Mark’s Square, it felt like I had stepped into a living Renaissance painting. Everyone—and I mean everyone—was dressed to impress. And not in casual, store-bought costumes either. We’re talking full-on 18th-century ballgowns, brocade jackets, powdered wigs, feathered tricorn hats, and intricately hand-painted masks.What struck me most was this: people didn’t just wear costumes; they embodied characters. Nobles, jesters, courtiers, mysterious strangers with piercing eyes hidden behind golden masks. Walking through Venice during Carnival was like time-traveling into a grand masquerade ball where reality itself felt suspended.One of the highlights of my 2018 Carnival experience was attending a masked ball held in one of Venice’s historic palazzi. I remember entering a grand hall lit entirely by candlelight, its chandeliers swaying with the music, and the echo of classical strings bouncing off ancient stone walls. Everyone looked like royalty. There were actors performing scenes from Commedia dell'Arte, an opera singer who gave an impromptu performance on a marble staircase, and guests from all over the world sipping prosecco and dancing like it was 1799.These private events are invitation-only or ticketed, and they’re often held in centuries-old buildings like Palazzo Pisani Moretta or Ca’ Vendramin Calergi. Guests are required to wear historically accurate attire, and the atmosphere is pure fantasy. There are also more casual costume parties, DJ sets on the canals, and masquerade pub crawls for younger crowds.