Now that Christmas has come and gone, we are looking forward to one of the next big events in the Maltese calendar, Carnival!

If you'd like to learn about the history of Carnival in Malta, as well as the customs, the food, fun facts and much more, check out our previous blog post here. Today, we will delve into the traditions and ways one celebrate this special time of year in Malta’s sister island, Gozo!

Celebrate Carnival in Gozo’s capital, Rabat! The main activities take place in and around It-Tokk, the main square of the island. Various organised festivities and attractions can be found here, like the traditional dance programmes, parades and pretty floats.

The village of Xagħra is also known for its Traditional Carnival celebrations, and for keeping the ‘Kummittiva’ alive; a special kind of folklore dance where the dancers go round a maypole with ribbons. You can also find organised carnivals in the villages of Xewkija and Żebbuġ. The bars take to the streets and kiosks adorn the pavements offering plenty of refreshments all night long. These events are free for all the family!

If you want to experience a spontaneous and more adult-centred version of Carnival, Nadur is definitely your go-to destination. You might be surprised to learn that Carnival celebrations in this village are not organised by any official committee, in fact, it feels and looks like a big street party! Expect weird, dark and grotesque costumes, home-made satirical floats, and simply lots of spontaneous street madness!

For those seeking club events, there’s no shortage of Carnival-themed parties to choose from! Check out The Wknd Pass or G7’s Aurora Carnival Weekender for more info and tickets.