Below is a video of the starting day of this 2010 edition.

- Cento Carnival of Europe

Since 1993, the historic Cento Carnival of Europe is twinned with the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro. It features five consecutive Sundays of samba dancers and hosts collateral events such as street performance and the samba schools parade. (http://www.carnevalecento.com/)
when: Jan 31 - Feb 28, 2010
where: Cento (Emilia-Romagna)

- Putignano Carnival (Apulia)

The Putignano Carnival is both the longest — it starts in December/January — and one of the oldest carnivals in the world — researchers have found records dating the event back to December 26, 1394. Find out more of Putignano Carnival at http://www.carnevalediputignano.it/
when: Jan 31 - Feb 14 2010 (various dates)
where: Putignano (Apulia)

- Ivrea Carnival

Best known for its orange fights involving the whole town of Ivrea, Piedmont. Because of that, it’s one of the funniest and most and enjoyable Carnival festivals in Italy.
The orange battles take place all over town with the main events held on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday running up to Shrove Tuesday. (http://www.carnevalediivrea.it/) .
when: Feb 13 - 16, 2010
where: Ivrea (Piedmont)

- Viareggio Carnival

Viareggio Carnival features most spectacular carnival parades in Italy. It is famous worldwide for its incredible floats, which satirise public and political figures. (http://www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com/ )
when: Jan 31 - Feb 21, 2010 (various dates)
where: Viareggio (Tuscany)

- Carnival festivals in Sardinia

La Sartiglia, held in the town of Oristano, is a Carnival festival re-enacting a medieval tournament. Find out more of La Sartiglia at http://www.sartiglia.org .
when: Feb 14 2010 (annual - Carnival Day)
where: Oristano

Samugheo Carnival, is an unusual Carnival festival, re-enacting ancient pagan rites. It’s an unique spectacle. Details at http://www.mamutzones.it.
when: Feb 11 - 16, 2010
where: Samugheo

- Carnival festivals in Sicily

Termini Imerese Carnival The oldest in Sicily, held near Palermo, it is a colourful Carnival focusing on allegorical floats inspired by political themes .
Where: Termini Imerese (Sicily)

Acireale Carnival With its origins dating back to the 16th century, the Acireale Carnival, is one of the oldest in Sicily. It features amazing carts, colourful parades, folkloric performances and re-enactments. ( http://www.carnevaleacireale.com/ )
Where: Acireale (Sicily)

Sciacca Carnival One of the oldest Carnival festivals in Sicily, the Sciacca Carnival is a testimony to Sicily’s rich cultural heritage. It also features many collateral folklore exhibitions.(http://www.carnevaledisciacca.it/ )
Where: Sciacca (Sicily)

- Venice Carnival

It is the king of Carnival festivals. “Sensation” is the theme for the 2010 Venice Carnival. It aims to suggest visitors to discover, see, feel, touch, smell and taste the six districts of Venice.
Details and programme of Venice Carnival at http://www.carnevale.venezia.it/
when: Feb 6 - 16, 2010
where: Venice

The Valentine festival “Verona in Love” offers you a week-end filled with Valentine and romance events in the city of Romeo and Juliet. Find out festival programme at http://www.veronainlove.co.uk/program.html .
When: Feb 9 - 14, 2010 (annual);
Where: Verona

- Camogli (tourist resort on Ligurian Riviera)

“Lovers in Camogli” is the Camogli’s Valentine festival. Those who are visiting Cinque Terre area around Valentine’s Day, can take the chance to visit Camogli, located just a few km away from there. The Valentine festival offers a chance to ttry the special Valentine menus the local restaurants offer, in the land of pesto sauce.
Festival programme is available at http://www.sanvalentinocamogli.it/.
when: Feb 12 - 14, 2010 (annual)
where: Camogli, Liguria

- Terni (Umbria) 90km North of Rome

To celebrate St. Valentine Day, a four-day chocolate tastings is held in the city of Terni.
St. Valentine — Saint of Love –is patron Saint of Terni.
The event, “Cioccolentino”, celebrates love, desire and passion with tons of finest crafted chocolate.
when: Feb 11 - 14, 2010 (annual)
where: Terni.

In addition to Opera selections, The Bel Canto will be performing Va Pensiero from Nabucco, the second act quartet from La Boheme, and selections from Camelot and Kiss Me Kate.

Salvatore Scarpa, assistant director of the Philadelphia Ballet will be conducting the orchestra.

The Bel Canto Lyric Opera is made up of Philadelphia Orchestra members, with singers who have earned some of the highest awards, such as the International Pavarotti Competition. It performs extensively in the Philadelphia, NJ and NY areas to great acclaim.

For details of the event, please call 215-334-0529.
When: Sunday, October 25 at 4:00
Where: SS. John Neumann - Maria Goretti High School Auditorium, 10th and Moore Streets, Philadelphia.

The Italian Walk of Fame aims to contribute to the preservation and education of Italian heritage by recognizing and celebrating the achievements of Italians who have excelled within their respective fields and across a variety of industries.

From the city that is home to the largest community of Italians outside of Italy comes the world’s first Italian Walk of Fame (IWOF). Located in the heart of Toronto’s famous downtown tourist destination known as “Little Italy” and co-founded by Jimi Bertucci and Marisa Beaco Lang, the IWOF will pay tribute to the extraordinary achievements Italians have had, locally and globally, in all fields including business, science, art, film, theatre, finance, medicine, literature, architecture, religion and politics.

Its establishment will provide,
- A place to recognize and celebrate their achievements.
- A platform upon which the Italian identity as well as the Italian immigrant experience can be discussed and defined.
- A means by which visitors and young people can learn some important facts about individuals of Italian origin in particular and about the immigrant experience in general.
- An inspiration to the young for further achievement.

The unveiling ceremonies will take place in Toronto’s “Little Italy” in front of the CHIN Building (622 College St.) at 1:30 pm on Sept 7, 2009. A gala awards dinner will follow later that day at the Riviera Parque Banquet & Convention Centre in Vaughan (2800 Highway 7 West) at 6:00 pm.

Stars of achievement will be presented to:

Giancarlo Giannini - Internationally Acclaimed Academy-Award Nominated Actor
Phil Esposito - Hockey Legend and Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
Johnny Lombardi - Pioneer Broadcaster and Community Leader
Rudy Bratty - Real Estate Developer, Described as “The Man who Built Toronto”
Julian Fantino - Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
Connie Francis - “America’s Sweetheart of Song” and International Best-Selling Artist

“The Italian Walk of Fame will recognize and honor these six individuals of Italian origin who have demonstrated an exceptional level of accomplishment within their respective fields“, said Co-Founder Marisa Beaco Lang. “In our inaugural year, a portion of the proceeds raised from the awards gala will benefit the Abruzzo earthquake relief effort“, she added.

Details and tickets for the Gala Awards dinner following the unveiling at ItalianWalkOfFame.com.

The price for a complete wedding in the most romantic city of the world, for non Italian couples, is from Euro 500 to 3,500, much depending on the day — festive or not — and on the required services (hotel booking, Gondola or motoscafi, Laguna tour, wedding video on DVD, honey moon in Italy etc….)
More info on planning a wedding in Venice at http://weddingvenice.it/index_en.htm .

The city of Turin, offers the webcam service for free.
Also, Turin offers a videoconferencing service — as a paid service, for those who cannot attend the ceremony.

With this service, Turin aims to give the chance to families and friends to broadcast themselves — and spouses to feel their presence — on megascreens placed in the rooms where the wedding is being celebrated.
Among the venues to celebrate weddings the city of Turin offers, two of the major historic buildings of the city: the Mole Anonelliana and Palazzo Reale. (source)

Festa Italiana features an Italian Film Festival — 2nd edition — scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Casino Theatre of Vandergrift.

The programme of 2009 edition Italian Film Festival includes: “Il Postino” — “The Postman” – (1994, Director: Michael Radford, Cast: Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Massimo Troisi); “Umberto D.” (1952, Director: Vittorio De Sica); “Malèna” (2000, Director: Giuseppe Tornatore, Cast: Monica Bellucci).

When: August 15 -16, 2009 (annual)
Where: Vandergrift, PA

Find out details and program of “Festa Italiana di Vandergrift” at FestaItaliana.us.

The July 2 edition is also known as “Palio di Provenzano“. The other one, named “Palio dell’Assunta“, takes place on August 16.

Here’s a video of the Palio di Siena held on July 2, 2008.

delawareonline writes: “Visitors will find many of the landmarks of St Mark’s Square in Venice, including Torre dell’Orologio, the clock tower, as well as the Grand Canal, lined with streetside shops made out of painted plywood, complete with doorways that lead nowhere and flower-filled window boxes as well as a life-sized wooden gondola in which passers-by can sit for photos.

When it’s finished, the street scene will measure 150 feet, from the Rialto Bridge to Harry’s Bar, where patrons can rest and buy Bellinis, one of the bar’s famous cocktails. In between, patrons will find a panini shop offering the Italian sandwiches. The street scene will be 50 feet wide and range from 12 feet tall for the smallest shops to 20 feet tall for the clock tower.”

The Dana Pyle’s Venice will anchor the Wilmington’s Italian Festival at St. Anthony of Padua — June 7-14 –, one of the area’s biggest summer festivals, which this year celebrates the theme “City of Water.”

Pyle, who has spent six months designing and building St. Mark’s Square with the help of lots of volunteers, says: “When I heard the theme was Venetian, I was ecstatic. I love Venice. It’s my favorite European city.” (source: delawareonline9

- About 2009 St. Anthony’s Italian Festival
When: June 7th - 14th (Monday - Friday 5:30 - 10:30PM ; Saturday and Sundays 2:00 - 10:30PM)
Where: 901 N. Dupont St - Wilmington, DE 19805
Festival details and programme at St. Anthony’s Italian Festival website.