Carnival in Gozo – How and When Is It Celebrated?

With Carnival just around the corner, the rush to celebrate the Nadur Carnival is building up nicely, with apartments and farmhouses in Gozo for rent sought out months in advance. First, it’s worth remembering where the feast comes from before diving into when and how the event is celebrated.

The history of Carnival in Malta

For the uninitiated, Carnival is a yearly festival that takes place just before Lent commences, and it’s also where the feast gets its name from. Since meat is not consumed during Lent, and the Carnival celebrations occur just before, the whole thing gets its name from the Italian phrase “carne vale”, which means “meat is allowed”. This year, celebrations will start on the 17th of February and last until the 21st.

The Famed Gozo Carnival

Now that we’ve established why it’s called Carnival, we’ll dive into what makes it unique. For starters, it’s not that Carnival on the main island of Malta is not fun. On the contrary, carnival in Malta is widely celebrated, not least in the capital city of Valletta. However, in Gozo, Carnival celebrations are touched by something extra, especially in Nadur.

Whether it’s families heading up to Malta’s sister island to visit It-Tokk, Victoria’s main square, or groups of friends celebrating the more clandestine variation celebrated in Nadur, there’s something for everyone over the five days of festivities.

Carnival in Gozo entertainment

Why visit Gozo? Whether it’s street parties, parades, dancing, unique performances or marvelling at the creativity of the carnival floats, the Gozo Carnival is a time to let out your inner child and enjoy yourself. Though the two primary sources of entertainment will be Rabat (Victoria) and Nadur, villages such as Xewkija, Xagħra and Żebbuġ will not be short of fun either.

Bars will extend their services to the streets, and food stalls will populate the pavements and corners to ensure no one misses out on Carnival’s delicacies.

There will be plenty of events at nightclubs, bars, pubs and larger venues, each with dedicated themes for different nights. It’s a chance for everyone to indulge in over-the-top celebrations lasting well into the early morning hours, but there is a caveat worth noting.

This kind of revelry has become so infamous that the sheer amount of people flocking to Gozo results in lengthy queues at the ferry terminal and a higher demand than usual for rental property.

Property Gets Extra Hot

Apartments in Gozo are already in demand, given the island’s increased serenity compared to its mainland counterpart. However, property for rent in Gozo, especially short-let holiday properties, becomes extra hot during Carnival in February. And while it’s always recommended to get in on the action early to find the perfect property to rent, plans change along the way, which could result in some last-minute searches of a desperate nature to try and find suitable accommodation.

Types of Gozo property rentals

Farmhouses tend to be the property of choice since they can accommodate large groups of people at once, meaning groups of friends or families can stick together. Apartments are also a popular option since, more often than not, people will be outdoors, enjoying the attractions in the streets. Explore our Gozo property centre and find the most sought-after types of real estate in Gozo to rent.

Get in touch with us today!

As property experts, RE/MAX Malta is well-positioned to aid where possible. We’ve got some short-let holidaproperties ideal for this time of year, or if you’d like to extend your stay, you might still be in time for some last-second steals!

Check out our website to see what types of property in Malta or Gozo are available, or get in touch with one of our dedicated estate agents to find your ideal property for rent in Gozo this Carnival season.