The Malta Summer Carnival 2016 will be held this weekend in Buġibba and, for the first time, in Marsascala.

Taking place from 7pm to 11pm, tomorrow and on Saturday activities will be concentrated in Buġibba, while a carnival parade will be held along the Marsascala promenade on Sunday from 7pm onwards.

Friday and Saturday will see the traditional ġostra (grease pole) at the bay below Buġibba Square. The game dates back to the period of the Knights of St John, with the word derived from the Italian ‘giostra’, meaning tournament. Locally, however, it refers to a competition in which a large pole is mounted on to a barge or pier and smeared with grease and animal fat. Participants then take turns to climb up the pole to reach flags placed at its top and claim a prize, while those who slip fall into the sea.

The activity will then continue with a défilé of 11 new floats, created specifically for this event, together with the participation of seven dance companies who will perform during the carnival parade and in the main square in their carnival costumes.

Tomorrow, the défilé starts from the jetty area and passes along the promenade. On Saturday, it starts from the parking area at Triq il-Port Ruman, passing through part of Tourist Street and along the promenade.

This is the fourth edition of the Malta Summer Carnival which aims to give tourists a taste of the local carnival tradition, while promoting Maltese culture and history. It offers a glimpse of the burst of life and colour that is the main event in Malta, held as per tradition in the run-up to Lent. All activities are free of charge.

• The Malta Summer Carnival celebrations are organised by Arts Council Malta with the support of the Valletta 2018 Foundation, the Malta Tourism Authority, the Parliamentary Secretariat of Local Government and the local councils of St Paul’s Bay and Marsascala.