Masked revelers in colorful makeovers thronged to the Venetian streets and the city's St. Mark's Square as a preview of the Venice Carnival 2012 was held Feb. 4 and 5 in Venice, Italy.

The 2012 Venice Carnival will happen from Feb. 11 to 21, according to the festival's official site.

The annual festival, that starts every year 40 days before Easter, attracts thousands and thousands of visitors turning up to Venice each day for Carnivals.

Masks are a key feature of the festival and signify a common identity among the classes. Many events are in store for this year's festival.

The city of Venice will be the host of different scenic shows and events in main Campos and on the Grand Canal featuring concerts, live performances by international artists and mask parades. The Carnival offers a daily and diverse artistic program in the Grand Theatre of St. Mark's Square and in dozens of other public art spaces from early in the morning until late at night, a statement on the festival's official site reads.

Check out below the pictures from the colorful preview of the 2012 Venice Carnival at St. Mark's Square:

Venice Carnival 2012 Masked Revellers Party Medieval Style
Masked revellers pose near Saint Mark's Square during the preview of Venetian Carnival. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
Venice Carnival 2012 Preview Pictures
A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the preview of Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb. 5, 2012. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
Venice Carnival 2012 Masked Revellers Party Medieval Style
A young lady dressed in black and wearing a mournful pink masque. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
Venice Carnival 2012 Masked Revellers Party Medieval Style
Masked revellers pose in Saint Mark's Square during the Carnival in Venice. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
Venice Carnival 2012 Masked Revellers Party Medieval Style
Masked revellers pose in Saint Mark's Square during the Carnival in Venice. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
Venice Carnival 2012 Preview Pictures
A traditional Venetian mask is displayed at the atelier of costume designer Stefano Nicolao in downtown Venice Feb. 6, 2012. Nicolao is one of the biggest costume designer in Venice with more than 10,000 costumes, working with theater, cinema and renting during the Venice carnival. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
Venice Carnival 2012 Preview Pictures
A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the preview of Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb. 5, 2012. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
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