Il-Karnival ta’ Malta
Festivals Malta is once again organising the official Maltese carnival festivities.
The primary events are being held in Valletta, but other celebrations are taking place in Ħamrun today from 10am onwards and, for the first time, in Żurrieq and Marsa on February 8 from 6pm onwards.
Mosta is also holding a host of carnival activities on February 9.
On February 8 and 9, there will be a live theatrical performance of Il-Qarċilla, the traditional farce synonymous with carnival, penned by Ċikku l-Poplu, and directed and produced by Joseph Galea, at Spazju Kreattiv. Tickets are available on kreattivita.org.
The official Valletta programme kicks off on February 9 with competitive dances by dance companies from Sections D, B and A, and a parade with the participation of King
Carnival, featuring grotesque masks, dance company floats Section A and triumphal floats from Section D. The programme also includes the children’s carnival on February 10 and The Best European Show, being staged at the Manoel Theatre from February 9 to 11 (see theatre section).
The Qarċilla will also be performed in the streets of Valletta at various times on February 10 and 11.
The festivities will end with a grand finale on February 13 from 6pm, when all the competition floats will parade along St Anne Street, Floriana.
For all the details, visit festivals.mt/karnival.
Republic Street and culminates at Independence Square (ItTokk), where a dancing spectacle with the participation of dance companies and carnival groups ensues. There will also be humorous sketches, triumphal floats, local bands and grotesque masks.
Other Gozitan towns and villages will also hold their own activities on different days. Organised carnival festivities will be held in Għarb and Nadur today, on February 8 in Munxar, on the 9th in Qala, on the 10th in Għajnsielem and Xagħra, and on the 11th in Xewkija, Xagħra, Żebbuġ, San Lawrenz and Sannat. Nadur will have its spontaneous carnival from February 9 to 13.
For more information, log on to visitgozo.com. hands-on activities and playful exploration.
Visitors will have the chance to immerse themselves in the art of tinkering and making, while exploring the science behind traditional artistic crafts. One will also discover the art of paper crafting, from DIY paper-making to intricate papier-mâché and large-scale paper constructions.
Visitors will also learn about the art of upcycling by learning techniques to transform unusable paper into practical items.
Tickets can be bought from the reception desk on the day of the visit on a first-come, firstserved basis, or buy them online from showshappening.com. to 13. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.