The “proposed programme” for Carnival this year, being held between 12 and 16 February, kicks off at 4.30pm on 12 February when there will be an assembly of dancing company groups in Merchants Street, followed by a street parade show composed of the King Carnival float, masks, a band, and all the dancing companies.
At 5pm there will be a street parade along Merchants Street, St John’s Street and Republic Street, a and dancing programme competition at Freedom Square at 6pm, with the programme ending at 8pm.
Activities on the Saturday start at 10am with a non-competitive dancing programme and defile` in Freedom Square, lasting until around 12pm. At 10.30am there will be a defile` from City Gate with the participation of the King Carnival float, isolated masks and decorated vehicles. After the enclosure the defile` will proceed along Republic Street, St John’s Street and up to Merchants Street.
At 4pm there will be a Carnival band show in Valletta; at 5pm triumphal floats will start proceeding from the Valletta bus terminus. Grotesque masks will take part in the Valletta defile`. Between 5.30 and 9pm there will be the dancing programme competition at Freedom Square with the participation of masks, isolated masks, and decorative vehicles and floats.
All Carnival items and triumphal floats will proceed to St Anne Street, Floriana, at 6.30pm for the late night defile` and night carnival which will also include the Kukkanja, near the Vilhena Monument, and other activities intended for the public, such as carnival balls, carnival games, and live band gigs.
The Sunday activities start at 1pm with a defile` from the Granaries in Floriana. At 2pm there will be a grand Carnival show at Freedom Square, Valletta, with the defile` from the Granaries proceeding to Castille Place, Merchants Street, St.John’s Street, Republic Street, Freedom Square and St James Ditch, where floats will be parked from 6.30pm.
On the Monday, at 10am, there will be a Carnival band parade with the participation of a Carnival band and children’s dancing groups in costume which will animate the capital. The band parade will last up to 11.30am and covers Republic Street, Melita Street, Merchants Street, St Lucy Street, Republic Street and City Gate.
Afternoon activities start at 4.30pm with an assembly of dancing companies near the Ministry of Tourism in Merchants Street, followed by a street parade composed of the King Carnival float, masks, a band, and all the dancing companies.
At 5pm the street parade will move along Merchants Street, St John’s Street and Republic Street; at 5.30pm there will be a dancing programme competition at Freedom Square. The day’s activities end at 8pm.
The last day’s activities start at 10am with a Carnival band parade with the participation of a Carnival band and children’s dancing groups in costume which will animate the capital. The band parade will last up to 11.30am and goes around Republic Street, Melita Street, Merchants Street, St Lucy Street, up Republic Street to City Gate.
At 3.30pm floats will start proceeding to Valletta, and there will be a defile` and show in the capital at 5pm. The Grand Finale will be held in St Anne Street, Floriana, from 6.15pm.