Summer Carnival Celebrations

The idea of speaking about Carnival in the middle of summer was a new thing a number of years ago, but now it has changed.

Our country is full of talent, history and art, and we must do our utmost take care of them that is why this government has put culture and the arts in a centre stage of its policy. This is being done because we truly and wholly believe that this sector, apart from being a fascinating one, is capable to contribute to the country’s economy. Through the numerous entities and organisations involved in the culture sector, we aim to provide a vast colourful programme all year round in a manner that makes this sector an inclusive one, thanks to initiatives and events which cater to everyone’s interests.

Just this week, we witnessed the 6th consecutive edition of the Summer Carnival - a celebration for everyone to enjoy. This event, spanning over three days, brought together the localities of Buġibba, St Paul’s Bay, Qawra and Marsaskala in a colourful celebration involving floats, dances and numerous activities throughout, which also included a traditional ġostra held in Buġibba for two nights whilst the final night of the carnival was held, for the third year running, in Marsaskala. Each year, this celebration becomes bigger and better as we aim to keep on improving year after year. There were more than 100 dancers participating, with 11 floats and 12 companies taking part. In fact, an estimate of around 20,000 people have attended the Summer Carnival, a clear sign that the audience is steadily growing, providing us with the drive to keep on executing events in the culture and creative sector.

All of this was possible thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of those involved in organising the Summer Carnival, who work tirelessly to provide a spectacular, high quality event. Through dedication and investment, we’re able to create initiatives and events of a high quality level for our communities throughout the whole year, for locals and tourists to enjoy. Through such events, we’re also promoting our local talent and creativity, whilst also safeguarding and strengthening our traditions for years to come and for future generations to build upon.

Another essential factor in the creation of such initiatives is the importance of collaboration. Collaboration is a key essential element to the realisation of well-executed events, and I wish to thank all the participants, Festivals Malta and Local Councils involved for their efforts in producing the Summer Carnival.

I would also like to mention and extend my gratitude to the Cleansing and Maintenance Division. This Division’s intrinsic job is always carried out swiftly especially after such a largescale event, and makes sure that our localities are well taken care of – not only cleaning the land but even and maybe most importantly the sea.

Through such initiatives and with the help of collaboration, we can keep on promoting our cultural sector in a way that it is more accessible to all. Thanks to the energy and drive garnered from our experiences, we are committed to keep improving our country’s quality of life for our society’s wellbeing.