There are elaborate headdresses, music and dancing, but definitely no debauchery. Malta Carnival in the Mediterranean island retains many features of its 16th-century roots. The capital, Valletta, has a parade of colourful floats that ends in the crowning of a king. On Feb. 27, the finale will be a masked parade in Floriana, on the outskirts of Valletta, that ends in a fireworks show. Barcelona Eat and drink yourself silly while watching salsa bands compete on the weekend before Mardi Gras for an award given to the best and most outrageous costumes in this Spanish city.
Restaurants compete to create award-winning dishes and run special promotions throughout the week.
If you miss your chance to see Carnival in February, the island of St. Lucia gives you another chance. Because the traditional festivities come so close to the island's indpendence day on Jan. 22, the Carnival is being rescheduled to July 16 and 17. The costumes, music and competitions are spirited and after the festivities, there is always a beach close at hand. Germany Folks in Cologne, Dusseldorf, Mainz and Munich take advantage of the season known in German as Fastnach or Fasching to let their hair down with street parties and masked balls. One of the most colourful is scheduled Feb. 25 in Cologne, featuring more than 100 bands.