Jgħidu X-Xjuħ U Jgħidu T-Tfal Viva L-Jiem Tal-Karnival!
If ever there was a festival that brings together people of all ages, it’s carnival. And the wait for this year’s much anticipated edition is almost over. In only two days Malta will erupt into a sea of bright costumes, elaborate floats and plenty of activities for all the family to enjoy.
Organised by Festivals Malta, the streets of Valletta will come to life with colourful characters, street performances and artistic displays for five days between the 17th and 21st of February.
What makes the Maltese Carnival so special?
This unique 500-year old tradition has particular characteristics that distinguish it from other carnivals held around the world, making it stand out amidst the ones held in Venice, Viareggio or Rio de Janeiro. In Malta it is all about the floats, the dance competitions, the costumes and the grotesque masks.
Last but not least, Malta’s powerful spirit embodies the passion and dedication that goes into carnival year after year.
Carnival enthusiasts dedicate their lives to this festival. They create larger than life floats embellished with satire, pop culture, current affairs, and cultural diversity, fused together by surreal storytelling expressing the artist’s creativity.
They are multimedia sculptures created out of metal framing, hydraulics and electrical motors, wood, clay moulds, fibreglass and papier-mâché, not to mention dazzling neon lights and confetti.
The competitive costumes are a work of art in their own right. Elaborate and grandiose, they bring out the finest workmanship qualities of carnival participants.
The defilé is led by none other than King Carnival himself which has been designed and built by the Landa Carnival crew for more than 25 years.
St. George’s Square, Valletta, becomes a stage for colourful displays where the floats come to life to the cheerful upbeat tunes accompanied by choreographed dances that bring out the spectacular details of the costumes.
So what can you expect?
Carnival is a sensational celebration hosting exuberant parades of spectacular floats, magnificent costumes and epic masks – a true testament to the incredible talent of Carnival professionals and aficionados.
For tickets and information visit: festivals.mt/karnival
Have you got your carnival costume yet?