Carnival
Carnival is celebrated in the days preceding Ash Wednesday and the start of the season of Lent. In Gozo, Carnival festivities are mainly held in the capital Victoria and the village of Nadur, in the week preceding Lent. While in Victoria the carnival sticks to the kid-friendly traditional costumed parade form, the Carnival in Nadur is the scene of outrageous costumes, satirical floats and the general wild party atmosphere. The Nadur Carnival is now less a cultural oddity and more a famous street party, gathering thousands of visitors from Malta and abroad.
Festas
The festa season, when every local village celebrates its patron saint, lasts from May to September. It is a great time to experience local traditions, enjoy street food, spectacular fireworks, and the community spirit of celebration.
The festa dates for 2021 are as follows:
25 May: Feast of St. Paul, Munxar
7 Jun: Feast of Corpus Christi, Għasri
10 June: Feast of St. Anthony, Għajnsielem
13 Jun: Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fontana
20 Jun: Feast of St. John the Baptist, Xewkija
29 Jun: Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, Nadur
12 Jul: Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Kerċem
19 Jul: Feast of St. George, Victoria
26 Jul: Feast of St. Margaret, Sannat
5 Aug: Feast of St. Joseph, Qala
12 Aug: Feast of St. Lawrence, San Lawrenz
15 Aug: Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, Victoria
19 Aug: Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, Żebbuġ
26 Aug: Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Għajnsielem
8 Sep: Feast of Our Lady of Victories, Xagħra
16 Sep: Feast of Our Lady of Graces, Victoria
Gozo Opera Month
In October, Gozo’s two rivaling opera theaters, Astra and Aurora put up at least one opera each, often with internationally renowned artists
Christmas Markets and Festivities
Gozo celebrates Christmas with decorations, markets, fairs, concerts and cherished traditions. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the villages of Ghajnsielem, Xhagra and Nadur organise their own Christmas markets. In Villa Rundle gardens in Victoria, there is a Christmas fair every weekend in December.