The Arts Ministry has announced that the Summer Carnival will be returning this year in the localities of St Paul’s Bay and Marsascala. Organised by Festivals Malta, in collaboration with the concerned local councils, the Summer Carnival will be set up from Friday, 23 August till Sunday, 25 August from 8pm onwards.

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici described this event as not just a festival that will offer entertainment, but also as an opportunity for the general public to experience elements of the traditional Carnival, such as floats and dances, on a smaller scale.

Minister Bonnici also said that this event will also help promote the carnival as a form of artistic craftsmanship, where artists’ creativity can be on full display.

“The Summer Carnival is important to increase awareness on the cultural importance of carnival and its artistic heritage,” Bonnici stated.

Jason Busuttil, Maltese Carnival’s Artistic Director, described that on the Friday and Saturday nights, the Summer Carnival will be celebrated on the Bugibba promenade via a grand defile.

On the Sunday evening, the Summer Carnival will be celebrated along the promenade of Wied il-Għajn.

“During the Summer Carnival, a number of floats and dance companies will animate the surrounding streets with a festival of colours, dance and joy; a colourful party which is also in preparation for the grand carnival next February,” he said, “We encourage everyone to join us.”

Festivals Malta’s chairman, Aaron Zahra, also discussed how Summer Carnival can be an annual opportunity and cultural experience to experience what carnival enthusiasts, the Maltese community, and tourists enjoy so much about this cultural festival.

He remarked that the Summer Carnival is being organised in both the north and south of the country during a period of high tourism, so that more tourists can explore different areas across Malta and experience a “small taste” of what Malta offers every year in February.

Festivals Malta’s CEO, Frans Agius, said that “during the Summer Carnival, while we celebrate our artistry and culture and give an opportunity to enthusiasts to express their crafts, we give an experience to the visitors who will be with us in the summer days of what we are expecting on a much larger scale at the Malta Carnival in February.”

For more information on the programme for the 2024 Summer Carnival, one can visit the social media pages dedicated to Maltese Carnival on both Facebook and Instagram.