The Gozo regional carnival was held last Sunday with a defilé along Republic Street, Victoria, and dancing by various companies in costume in Fortunato Mizzi Street. This year the venue for carnival activities had to be changed due to the ongoing refurbishment works in Independence Square.
Carnival activities were also held in Xagħra on Sunday by the local council. Band march music was played along the village streets, followed by groups of dancers in carnival costumes, grotesque masks and floats. A giant prinjolata (carnival cake), weighing 600kg, was cut and distributed among spectators against a donation to Arka Foundation.
Another attraction was the traditional Kummittiva in which villagers in folk costume performed dances while weaving colourful ribbons attached to a pole standing in the middle, accompanied by the music of an accordion, violin, harmonica, friction drum (rabbaba), tambourine and guitar.
Victoria primary school organised a carnival day at which children and teachers wore carnival costumes. A group of Year 6 school girls performed a dance on stage in the school hall, and Year 5 pupil Alicia Jo Azzopardi sang I’m Alive. Children participated in the carnival mask competition and a party was held in each classroom.