Floating moon-themed parade kicks off Venice Carnival

This year's theme marks 50 years since man walked on the moon

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  Artist performs during the 'Tutta colpa della Luna' or 'Blame the Moon' festivities down the Rio di Cannaregio, one of Venice's famed canals on February 16, 2019. Venice began its annual Carnival festivities with a floating, night-time parade starting more than two weeks of celebrations to mark 50 years since man first walked on the moon. / AFP / Vincenzo PINTO

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  Masked people stand on a gondola as part of the Carnival in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. The Venice carnival in the historical lagoon city attracts people from around the world. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

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  Masked revellers wearing traditional carnival costumes sail on the Venice Grand Canal on a self made gondola In Venice on February 16, 2019. / AFP / Vincenzo PINTO

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  Artists perform during the " Tutta colpa della Luna ( Blame the Moon )" event in the Rio di Cannaregio on February 16, 2019 in Venice, as part of the carnival. The exhibition this team will celebrate the 50 anniversary of the Moon Landing, where floating structures transfer the theme of Carnival to the water. / AFP / Vincenzo PINTO

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  Artists perform during the 'Tutta colpa della Luna' or 'Blame the Moon' festivities down the Rio di Cannaregio, one of Venice's famed canals on February 16, 2019. Venice began its annual Carnival festivities with a floating, night-time parade starting more than two weeks of celebrations to mark 50 years since man first walked on the moon. / AFP / Vincenzo PINTO

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  Artists perform during the 'Tutta colpa della Luna' or 'Blame the Moon' festivities down the Rio di Cannaregio, one of Venice's famed canals on February 16, 2019. Venice began its annual Carnival festivities with a floating, night-time parade starting more than two weeks of celebrations to mark 50 years since man first walked on the moon. / AFP / Vincenzo PINTO

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  Artists perform during the 'Tutta colpa della Luna' or 'Blame the Moon' festivities down the Rio di Cannaregio, one of Venice's famed canals on February 16, 2019. Venice began its annual Carnival festivities with a floating, night-time parade starting more than two weeks of celebrations to mark 50 years since man first walked on the moon. / AFP / Vincenzo PINTO

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  Artists perform during the 'Tutta colpa della Luna' or 'Blame the Moon' festivities down the Rio di Cannaregio, one of Venice's famed canals on February 16, 2019. Venice began its annual Carnival festivities with a floating, night-time parade starting more than two weeks of celebrations to mark 50 years since man first walked on the moon. / AFP / Vincenzo PINTO

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  Artists perform during the 'Tutta colpa della Luna' or 'Blame the Moon' festivities down the Rio di Cannaregio, one of Venice's famed canals on February 16, 2019. Venice began its annual Carnival festivities with a floating, night-time parade starting more than two weeks of celebrations to mark 50 years since man first walked on the moon. / AFP / Vincenzo PINTO

• 

  Artists perform during the 'Tutta colpa della Luna' or 'Blame the Moon' festivities down the Rio di Cannaregio, one of Venice's famed canals on February 16, 2019. Venice began its annual Carnival festivities with a floating, night-time parade starting more than two weeks of celebrations to mark 50 years since man first walked on the moon. / AFP / Vincenzo PINTO

• 

  Artists perform during the 'Tutta colpa della Luna' or 'Blame the Moon' festivities down the Rio di Cannaregio, one of Venice's famed canals on February 16, 2019. Venice began its annual Carnival festivities with a floating, night-time parade starting more than two weeks of celebrations to mark 50 years since man first walked on the moon. / AFP / Vincenzo PINTO

Venice kicked off its annual Carnival festivities on Saturday with a floating, night-time parade down the Rio di Cannaregio, one of the city's famed canals, starting more than two weeks of celebrations that draw flocks of masked revellers.

Spectators lined the canal as elaborately decorated boats, accompanied by music, made their way down the waterway. The celebrations that precede the period of fasting before Easter will culminate on Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, on March 5.

"Blame the moon" is the theme of this year's parade, a spokeswoman said, to mark 50 years since man first walked on the moon, and in reference to Shakespeare's play Othello, where the moon is blamed for driving men mad.

The Venice Carnival tradition dates back centuries and is famous for the stylised masks donned by revellers. In recent decades, the event has become a major tourist attraction for the city.