Xlendi’s festa tells a story about the community around the bay. The celebration honours Our Lady of Mount Carmel, whose chapel overlooks the water. It belongs to the village’s religious and cultural life, with the seafront becoming part of the setting.
A small chapel at the heart of the feast
The building has grown with its community. Visit Gozo’s chapel history dates the front section to 1868 and records an extension at the back in 1969. During festa celebrations, decoration, music and the procession connect this hillside church with the waterfront below.
Visit Gozo’s account of the Xlendi feast describes a procession carrying the statue around the harbour, accompanied by a band, as well as fireworks. Its description of the water games captures another side of the occasion: people gathering around the bay to watch and cheer.
The challenge of the Ġostra
The Ġostra is the distinctive greasy-pole contest. A pole extends over the sea, and competitors try to reach the flag at its end. Watching from the shore offers a glimpse of a tradition built around skill, suspense and shared enjoyment.
The tourism authority describes the feast as traditionally taking place on the first Sunday in September. For a future visit, consult the current official Gozo events calendar for confirmed dates and the organisers’ programme; an older account is a record of the tradition, not a timetable for the next celebration. Leave the procession route clear and follow stewards’ directions around the water.