Chilly start to Carnival 2010

Revellers braved the chill yesterday as carnival festivities got under way in Valletta's Freedom Square.

The sound of upbeat music pounded through two gigantic speaker stacks, as dancers in feather boas in a whole plethora of colours with glittery highlights stood among silly clowns with their big, red noses and white faces. There was even a group of alarmingly oversized chickens talking to each other.

The traditional Friday defilè started with dance troupes competing for top honours in full make-up and costumes. Children in full carnival regalia scurried about excitedly among the crowds as dancers strutted their stuff.

A pair of ghouls, who looked like they had confused carnival with Halloween, were seen scaring a little princess away as she poked fun at them.

A group of Japanese tourists watched the festivities from an elevated platform close to the defilè enclosure, smiling and giggling among themselves at the merriment they were witnessing.

Up above the main crowd's heads, more tourists and groups of language students positioned themselves atop the Royal Opera House ruins and danced to the sound of the music, all seemingly having a ball.

Down Republic Street, King Carnival could be seen towering above everyone, almost as if he was presiding over the proceedings in Freedom Square, lying in wait for when he would take centre stage.

The festivities, which run all the way through to Tuesday evening, continue today at 10 a.m., with a children's defilè in Freedom Square. King Carnival leaves Castille Place at the same time, to head down Merchants Street, St John Street and finally Republic Street.