Gozo’s carnival festivities get underway this Sunday in Nadur

by Gozo News · February 9, 2023

Gozo's carnival festivities get underway this Sunday in Nadur Carnival festivities will soon be underway in Gozo, with this year’s programme launched for the Gozo Regional Carnival and the Nadur organised and spontaneous Carnival by Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri.

The island is gearing up for Carnival fever, which starts on Sunday in Nadur, and the final preparations underway so that Gozo is ready to welcome the thousands of visitors, both local and tourists, for this very popular weekend.

The Gozo Regional Carnival will be staged from Friday, the 17th to Tuesday, the 21st of February.

On Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday the Carnival will start with a parade at 6.00pm from near Villa Rundle along Triq ir-Repubblika where it reaches its climax in Pjazza Indipendenza (it-Tokk) with all participants.

Various dance companies for adults and children will take part, together with three schools, two Gozitan and one Maltese, grotesque masks, local bands and triumphal floats. On Sunday the parade starts at 3.00pm.

The Nadur Organised Carnival will return on Sunday, the 12th of February in the Square with a five-hour programme where groups from Gozo will take part. There will be something to entertain all ages, including a riot of colour, laughter, a variety of carnival dances, hilarious sketches, costumes, maskeruni, floats – both large and small, and the traditional kukkanja to bring it to a close.

The spontaneous Carnival for which Nadur is so popular will take place between the 17th and 21st of February around the streets in the centre of the village. All kinds of costumes and masks are expected this year, including contemporary themes such as war, political satire and more.

Minister Clint Camilleri stated that, “After an absence of two years, the spontaneous Carnival of Nadur is returning, which attracts thousands of Gozitans and Maltese, and – even though it is spontaneous – requires a lot of organisation when it comes logistics and security. The Ministry is helping the Local Council so that this Carnival continues to progress and attract the same large crowds and more for years to come.”

Mayor of Nadur Edward Said said that, “The Carnival of Nadur remains among the most sought after events in the winter calendar in our country. Thousands of participants and visitors are expected to join in this spectacular event. The Local Council remains committed to doing its part so that the spontaneous Nadur Carnival is successful.”