For La Festa di San Silvestro (New Year's Eve), Venice knows how to do things right. The music, fireworks and toast in St. Mark's Square culminate with a communal kiss at midnight. And the New Year's concert at La Fenice Theater is followed by a party at 8 p.m. with drinks, dinner and a midnight toast. Alternatively, you can enjoy the Golden Opera New Year's Eve performance before joining in revelry that lasts until dawn, when locals watch the sunrise and even take a dip at the Lido Beach. Make sure to try a traditional lentil dish, which symbolizes good fortune, and beware of those few people still participating in the custom of throwing old things out windows to symbolize preparation for the New Year. If you're still in town on the sixth, don't miss the Befana races, where men clad like women race boats along the Grand Canal.
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