RIMINI – Everyone’s ready for the fifth edition of the World’s Longest New Year’s Eve, the only Italian lineup that’s not only a party through the night, but lots more: an entire month and a half of music, shows, events, DJ sets and holiday spirit with more than 150 scheduled events

> 31st December: a thousand New Year’s in one night

The highlight, as usual, will be on 31st December with many new year’s parties between the seafront and the old town, from the amazing live concert in Piazzale Fellini, to the 'People’s New Year' in the heart of the city. Guest star for the evening will be Luca Carboni, the singer-songwriter from Bologna, who will take the audience into the new year with a musical journey, starting with 80s pop and then moving into the future, with all the big hits and songs from his new album Pop-Up, which has just won a gold record for its extraordinary success on radio and in the charts with the hit 'Luca lo stesso'.

At the stroke of midnight, there will be an unmissable fireworks display, between the sea and the Grand Hotel, much loved by Federico Fellini. Then the spectacle and the party continue in the old town: the ultimate 'New Year street' will connect the central Marina to the heart of the city, invading all its famous theatres, squares, streets, neighbourhoods and sites.

One thing you must do is stroll over to Piazza Cavour, in the heart of the city, which for the last night of the year will be hosting a party with an ice rink in Rimini’s Christmas Square and DJ sets in the foyer of the Teatro Galli, all immersed in the visual spectacle of a light installation by designer Marco Morosini, with his exhibition “The art of selling a bag”, and the story of Rimini’s beginnings as a seaside resort through the photographs of the Catrani collection, entitled The first season.

A short walk will lead you to Lights on Stage, in the heart of the renovations of the Teatro Galli, giving you a glimpse at designs for the brand new interior that will bring it to life, giving people an idea of what the theatre will be like when it is completed. In the background is the magnificent Castel Sismondo, with its incomparable backdrop of an open-air arena that will recall both the splendour of medieval Rimini and the nineteenth century era of Verdi.

The construction site of the New Wing of the City Museum will be transformed for the evening of the 31st, into a Circus. A marquee, street artists, the intense sounds of dance music, 3D mapping and DJ sets will merge into a unique dreamlike and hypnotic blend.

One of the most evocative places in Rimini’s old town, the Augustinian Complex, will host a music event that will bring together, both in dance and music, the two Americas, including tango, latin music and rock 'n' roll, with Del Barrio, Gran Caribe and Wanna be Americano.

December 31st, as if by magic, will light up another construction site - the Fulgor cinema, with 'Fulgor for one night/Rimini looks at Rimini'. From the renovations backstage, the Fulgor, one of its major landmarks, will light up images of Rimini. The story of the city is told on film over a hundred years, from images of the early twentieth century to home movies from the seventies: a succession of photos and footage that will move along the walls of the cinema immortalised by Federico Fellini in his film Amarcord.

In the City Museum, music meets art with the Quintessenza chamber ensemble (Greta Mussoni on cello, Chiara Raggi on guitar and vocals,, Federica Gemini on flute and Sara Galli on flute and as narrator) and we will toast the end of the year in the Hall of Justice among the frescoes of fourteenth century Rimini. The Far Gallery in Piazza Cavour will be opening especially for the evening along with the Roman Surgeon's House where, among the mosaics in Eutyches’ rooms, you can hear the notes of authors Lorenzo Semprini, Daniel Rizzetto and Gianluca Fabbri: Keep on dreaming: black & white songs, a musical journey that blends the words of Jack Kerouac and John Fante with the films of Stanley Kubrick, Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood.

This year even the church of Santa Maria ad Nives, former council chamber of the Province of Rimini, will be added to the list of spaces that will host free events on New Year's Eve, with 'Archi in rock', led by Filippo Malatesta on vocals, guitar and ukulele and the Eos quartet (Matthew Salerno on flute, Aldo Capicchioni on violin, Aldo Maria Zangheri on viola and Fabio Gaddoni on cello).

> Suggestions for Christmas such as markets, nativity scenes and ice rinks

From December to mid-January, every corner of the city becomes an open-air stage with more than 150 events (program attached) that will transform Rimini into the party capital of Italy. The spectacle offered by the illuminations, exhibitions, Christmas markets, traditional and sand-sculpted nativity scenes, and ice rinks will ignite the atmosphere of everyone’s favourite holiday by bathing the whole city in a new and welcoming light.

Christmas traditions are kept alive on the beach in Rimini with giant nativity sand sculptures at the Central Marina, on the beach in Piazzale Boscovich, next to the ice rink and in Torre Pedrera, between beaches 64 and 65. The Christmas Village in Piazzale Boscovich (the port area) is open to the public from Friday 4th December until 24th January, next to the ice rink on the seafront, while the nativity sand sculptures on the beach at Torre Pedrera will open the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8th) and will be open until Sunday 10th January.

This year, people who want to ice skate will be spoiled for choice. There are two ice rinks which have been decked out for the holidays.There is the ICE VILLAGE on the beach near the port of Rimini with its 800 square metres of ice rinks for adults and children and the sand nativity scene, which is new this year. In Piazza Cavour, RIMINI CHRISTMAS SQUARE, has a rink of more than 600 square meters, a food zone with 7 areas including bars, food vendors, sweet shops, 2 separate restaurants - and a sustainable Beach Area to show the other side of the city.

Along with the delightful nativity scenes there are the traditional Christmas markets and a series of events that light up the holidays. Among these you should not miss the Matryoshka Lab Store, with more than 80 artisans and designers, a modern art collection, workshops for children, workshops for adults, meetings, conferences and the OFF! area every evening that will transform the New Wing of the City Museum into a genuine cultural centre. From 18th to 20th December craftsmen and designers of unique handmade products will be taking over four storeys of a newly renovated, rationalist building from the 50s, right in the heart of the old town. For three days it will turn into a showcase for emerging artists and creative talent who hand make unique items.

A small German-style market where visitors can live and breathe the Christmas atmosphere and buy traditional products, will be returning from 5th December to 10th January, around the Arco d'Augusto: Things to look out for include products made of wood, ceramic, wool, recycled materials and semi-precious gemstones, all sold from small huts that surround the magical carousel, an amusement and entertainment from days gone by and an iconic element of childhood that is still appealing. For children and families you will find numerous exhibition spaces in the market, with products, games, decorations, gift ideas, handicrafts and, of course, attractions related to Christmas.

> Neighbourhood parties

During the festive period the historic areas of Rimini offer an extensive program of events.

Borgo San Giuliano lights up the festivities from 28th November until 6th January with Borgo Natale and offers many different activities. From the traditional christmas tree on the Tiberio bridge to the pedal-powered version in Piazza Ortaggi. Events, exhibitions, tastings, rides for children, shows and Christmas markets. These initiatives are being organised by Zeinta di Borg and the Borgo San Giuliano Association.

Borgo San Giovanni prepares for Christmas with Biânc Nadêl in two afternoons on the 7th and 8th December, with Christmas markets, live nativity scenes, music, gospel choir, children's workshops, sweets and cakes, sweet white wines and lots of surprises. Don’t miss the new giant hot air balloon that allows you to see the whole of Roman Rimini from up high, an incredible experience that combines fun and culture. The hot air balloon flies up to a height of 30 metres above the ground (while remaining anchored) to offer the unique experience of looking down on the old town of Rimini, the meeting point of the Via Flaminia and the Via Emilia. This initiative was organised by the Festival Committee in Borgo San Giovanni.

On 20th December in Borgo Sant'Andrea there will be a live nativity scene with over 150 characters that will visit three sites: the grounds of the Church in Piazza Mazzini will be the start and end point of the procession that finishes with the coming of the Magi, then the Old Wash House with its craft village and the shepherds, and finally the Schools Park which hosts the Nativity (runs from 14.30 to 17:00).

> Activities for families and children

There are many activities for families with children, starting with an exhibition of the legendary Lego 'bricks' (from 28th November to 13th December) that for three weeks will allow you to see the creations of the best "master-builders" in the world and will host important creations, sculptures, workshops, a large play area for children and a 28 square metre endeavour, exclusively dedicated to the city of Rimini with its monuments (Tempio Malatestiano, Arco d'Augusto) recreated in Lego.

From 23rd to 25th December, the most famous clown in the world will be at the Teatro Novelli in Rimini with Slava's Snowshow, a poetic and poignant show with great audience participation, that has enchanted audiences of all ages and from all over the world. A great way to enjoy the festive period with family and friends (show suitable for children older than 8) Times: Wednesday 23rd 21:00, Thursday 24th 16:00, Friday 25th 17:00 and 21:00).

For Epiphany, the new wing of the Museum will host local artists from the Risuona Rimini association as they introduce ‘Risuona Rimini a misura di stanza#3’', which aims to promote local artists. In the afternoon there will be workshops and entertainment activities for children.

> Shopping Night

On Sunday 27th December the spotlight will be on Rimini Shopping Night, with shops open late to celebrate the town centre and shopping, with live window displays, DJ sets and special prices for the occasion. An event designed to make sure that shopping becomes a memorable experience thanks to the festive atmosphere and warmth. The event will start at 16:00 and continue until 23:00. Taking part will be more than 100 shops in the old town, from small shops to large, well-known brands, from historic stores to bars and restaurants that will open their doors later than usual and which will organize micro events and special promotions to cheer their customers. This event is organised and promoted by the Centopercentro committee

> Opening the year at the Opera

As per tradition, the New Year Opera returns to usher in the new year on the usual dates of January 1st and 3rd at Rimini Conference Centre, Amphitheatre room

On stage will be one of the most engaging and romantic operas, Madame Butterfly, an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, staged by Opera Futura in partnership with the Amintore Galli City of Rimini Lyric Choir, directed by Paolo Panizza (who directed La Traviata in Rimini in 2013, and The Merry Widow, Rimini 2014). Madama Butterfly, referred to in the score and in the libretto as a "Japanese tragedy" and performed for the first time in 1904 at the La Scala Opera House in Milan, tells the story of young Ciò Ciò San and her naive and unrequited love for a United States naval officer and her vain hope that he will return to Nagasaki.

Tickets from 15.00 to 60.00 Euros.

> Promotional Marketing

Information, opportunities and promotional marketing for New Year’s Eve are handled by the Department of Tourism and Rimini Reservation, together for the first time in the same website: www.capodanno.riminiturismo.it.

A great opportunity for tourists to discover the many activities in Rimini for the World’s Longest New Year’s eve and an incredible opportunity for hotels belonging to the Rimini Winter Hotel network to advertise and promote tourist packages. The World’s Longest New Year’s Eve has become a successful tourist product, even capable of attracting tourists to Rimini in the winter! For the first time, Rimini Reservation is able to offer guests a ‘dynamic’ package that is built using the needs, interests and expectations of the customer.

One customer who seems to appreciate the Rimini format for one of the most awaited and celebrated events is Trivago, the largest hotel search engine in the world, that has selected Rimini and its program as being among the 10 Italian cities with the best program of events for welcoming in the new year.

The program of events can be found at www.capodanno.riminiturismo.it or searching by date on this link 
infoline and hotel booking: +39 0541 53399

The World’s Longest New Year’s Eve is promoted by the City of Rimini, the Chamber of Commerce and by APT Services Emilia Romagna in collaboration with Costa Product Union, Hera Group, Rimini Fiera SpA and with the participation of: Provincia di Rimini, Rimini Reservation, AIA Associazione Italiana Albergatori di Rimini, CNA Rimini, Confartigianato, Confcommercio Provincia di Rimini, Confesercenti Rimini, Confindustria Rimini, WinteRiminiHotel, Radio 105