Venice tends to have a higher tourist to local ratio during August. But some of those tourists may be international celebrities who come to Venice to attend the world-famous Venice Film Festival, which usually takes place at the end of the month. For news on temporary exhibits, concerts, or other occasional events, visit Martha's Italy Travel Blog.
All month during odd-numbered years - La Biennale. The months-long contemporary arts extravaganza that is the Venice Biennale begins in June every other year during odd-numbered years and runs through November. Read more about the Venice Biennale.
August 15 - Ferragosto. The traditional beginning of the summer holidays for most Italians, Ferragosto, which falls on the religious holiday of Assumption, is the time when local Venetians head to the beach, lakes, or mountains to escape the heat and mosquitoes that the height of summer brings. Read more about the Ferragosto holiday.
Late August through September - Venice Film Festival. The Venice Film Festival is an annual internationally known film festival which sees a bevy of stars and starlets grace the gondolas and red carpets of the Canal City. The prize given for the winning film is the Leon d'Oro - the Golden Lion - and past recipients have included Akira Kurosawa, Gillo Pontecorvo, Robert Altman, Ang Lee, and Sofia Coppola.