The program of events linked to the Carnival has been launched in the localities of Hamrun, Marsa and Mosta, which events will be staged in collaboration between Festivals Malta and the local councils of these three localities.
These details were announced during a news conference addressed by the Minister for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici and the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Alison Zerafa Civelli.
The Carnival in Hamrun will be staged on Sunday, February 4, from 10 in the morning to 1 in the afternoon in Triq San Ļużepp in collaboration with the Local Council of Hamrun.
In the locality of Marsa it will be staged on 8 February and in the locality of Mosta it will be staged on 9 February. These celebrations will include a parade with floats, masqueraders, and dancers, and in Hamrun even the participation of a number of bands.
Minister Bonnici emphasized the importance that this Maltese cultural expression, which is so dear to the Maltese people, also spreads in the various localities around Malta and Gozo. He said that apart from these three localities, with which there was a collaboration between Festivals Malta and the respective local councils, there are other localities in which celebrations related to the Carnival will be staged and this is all good for the culture to continue to spread in the streets and squares of our country.
“This celebration in our villages will be celebrated through a festival of joy, colors and tradition with a program full of activities for the whole family. I thank the volunteers for their dedication and time in the preparations for this event, which brings together a number of different talents and skills,” said Minister Bonnici.
Parliamentary Secretary Alison Zerafa Civelli praised the initiative of Festivals Malta and the collaboration with the local council in order to stage Carnival activities in the heart of the localities beyond Valletta and Floriana. She said that through this initiative we will continue to celebrate culture on a local basis and preserve it for future generations.
Chairman of Festivals Malta Aaron Zahra said: “We are taking the Carnival to the heart of the villages, which pays tribute to the legacy of the Carnival by reintroducing carnivalesque elements that have been missing from the Carnival for a long time Maltese for decades. By celebrating it beyond the City and Floriana, we are continuing to increase the accessibility of this celebration, while creating an opportunity for more people from different places to celebrate it.”
The CEO of Festivals Malta Frans Agius mentioned how the Carnival has been among us for many years and is a tradition that has been carried from one generation to the next for hundreds of years. He claimed that although Valletta is the place where the Carnival reaches its climax, this year the Carnival is returning to Hamrun and other localities in full collaboration with the local council.
The Artistic Director Jason Busuttil said, “In this year’s Carnival we will again have many collaborations with many local councils that will organize the carnival in their towns and villages. This shows the greatness of this holiday so dear to our hearts. Festivals Malta remains committed to being helpful to these local councils.”
Present for this news conference were the Mayor of Marsa, Josef Azzopardi and the Mayor of Hamrun, Christian Sammut.
