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All set for Nadur to host FECC Convention

Nadur, this year's World Carnival City, is ready to host the silver jubilee convention of the Federation of European Carnival Cities (FECC). The convention will be held between May 28th and June 5th. Nadur Mayor, Dr Chris Said, said there has been a huge response for this event and a number of hotels in Gozo are already fully booked with hundreds of delegates from European countries as well as nations further afield such as Pakistan, Argentina and Brazil. "A number of foreign entertainment companies - ranging from dance groups to samba bands - will be taking part in the event. However, the upcoming convention is not just for FECC delegates, but also a week of activities for Maltese and Gozitans to play a part - either as participants or spectators."

The week of events kicks off on Saturday, May 28th, with Silver - the official FECC Convention Party - at La Grotta Complex in Xlendi. Everyone is invited to join the Convention delegates for this kick-off party.

The opening ceremony will be held at the MBC Theatre on Sunday, May 29th. The ceremony will open with a parade along December 13th Street in Nadur with the participation of the Mnarja Band, the Mnarja Folk Group, the Santa Venera Boy Scouts, various foreign and local Carnival companies and all the delegates attending the convention. Nadur Mayor Dr Chris Said and FECC President Henry Van der Kroon will welcome the delegates and hand a commemorative medal to every one of them.

A Carnival Extravaganza will be held that afternoon at St Peter and St Paul's Square. The programme will feature Carnival companies from Gozo and Malta presenting Carnival floats, dances, costumes and bands. Acrobatic dancers from Germany, the Victory Band from Mellieha and a selection of costumes from Misterbianco in Sicily will be amongst the special attractions.

On Sunday evening, all the Carnival companies and delegates will march along Republic Street in Victoria towards Independence Square where they will enjoy a dance presentation by Yada Dance Company about the history of Gozo. This event is being organised by the Gozo Cultural Council and starts at 8.00pm.

On Monday, May 30th, the convention will move to Valletta, where a Carnival Parade along Republic Street is scheduled at 10.00am. The parade will end in front of the Presidential Palace, where delegates will meet President Edward Fenech Adami.

The Xaghra Local Council is organising a traditional evening including the traditional Carnival dance ‘Kummittiva'. The event will be held on Tuesday, May 31st, at 8.00pm. Miriam Christine Borg, John Cassar and the Broadcasters and KURENT from Ptuj Carnival in Slovenia will be amongst the evening's special guests.

A Carnival monument, commissioned to Gozitan artist John Grima, will be unveiled the following day, June 1st, at 6.00pm at Ghajn Qasab Street in Nadur. All delegates and the public will be then invited to participate in a Thanksgiving Mass at St Peter and St Paul's Basilica. Cardinal Adrianus Simonis of Utrecht, the Netherlands, will be leading the Pontifical Mass.

A variety show will be held on Thursday night, June 2nd, at December 13th Street in Nadur. Four guest companies from Portugal, Germany, Switzerland and Italy will provide the night's entertainment, ranging from samba, acrobatic dance and guggamusic.

Carnivals Worldwide is the name of an audio-visual presentation to be held on Friday evening, June 3rd, at Archpriest Martin Camilleri Square in Nadur. Every delegation will present a five-minute feature about the way Carnival is celebrated in their country.

The delegates and the public will then walk to December 13th Street to experience Nadur's spontaneous carnival.

The closing ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 4th, at 7.00pm at the Council's Garden in Fatima Street. The closing ceremony will include a variety show featuring local and foreign Carnival companies along with the best of Maltese talent. A fireworks display will be held afterwards at St Peter and St Paul's Square.

The convention wraps up with an unforgettable night along December 13th Street in Nadur with the participation of local and foreign bands and revelers.

The FECC convention, which only FECC delegates can attend, will be held in the morning throughout the week. Delegates will be discussing Carnival-related areas of interest.

Carnival Impressions, a collective art exhibition to mark the occasion, will be held at the Ministry for Gozo's Exhibition Hall in Victoria. The exhibition will be open from Monday, April 30th, until Wednesday, June 8th.

More details can be obtained from the official FECC Convention website, which is available at www.nadur.gov.mt/fecc.