Six special Friday nights in Valletta

The second edition of BOV Streets Alive was officially launched yesterday, offering a wide variety of entertainment as well as shopping in the streets of Valletta every Friday between July 20 and August 24.

The event is an initiative of the Valletta Alive Foundation and Bank of Valletta. It is supported by the Ministry for Tourism and Culture, the Malta Tourism Authority and Allied Newspapers.

This year's programme will revolve around a number of themes and every Friday evening will be different.

Valletta Kreattiva will be the first theme on July 20, the main highlight of the evening being an arts exhibition at St George's Square. The Versatile Brass Band will perform at Great Siege Square while the upcoming theatre group Faux will put on a number of sketches inspired by well-known literary writings at the foyer of the National Library.

The second Friday, Valletta Kulinarja, will consist of a food fair and exhibition of local and international cuisine al fresco at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, to the music of the Mark Spiteri Lucas Band. The evening will also include a Caravaggio Banquet at the Auberge D'Italie.

The third Friday's theme is Valletta Storika. It will consist of a static exhibition of WWII military vehicles stationed at St George's Square, where the George Cross was presented to the people of Malta in 1942. The Police Force will perform their silent rifle drill while the Armed Forces of Malta will hold a display in the same square. Another highlight of the evening will be a concert of pre-war tunes by Paul Abela's Band.

The elegance of Valletta will be highlighted during the fourth Friday of BOV Streets Alive. The architecture, palaces and squares of Valletta will serve as the backdrop for activities such as a fashion show of international designer wear. Some of the most impressive palaces in Valletta, such as the Casino Maltese in Republic Street, will host modern dance and ballroom dancing shows performed by YADA Dance Company and the Malta Dance Board Association.

Arguably the most romantic streets of the city, St Ursula Street, St John's Street and Sta Lucia Street will be candle lit on the occasion of Valletta Romantika the following Friday. Those romantic at heart can hum along to the tunes of CantaNapoli at the Upper Barrakka Gardens - a show of Neapolitan song and melodies and excerpts from operettas by the Valletta Dramatic Company.

The last Friday of BOV Streets Alive will consist of a number of activities in which the public will be welcome to participate - there will be fun games for everyone who is young at heart as well as other games to enjoy watching such as a waiter race. There will be a martial arts exhibition. The highlight of the evening will be Bla Kondixin - a satirical performance of the group Ideas Alive inside the ruins of the opera house.

Apart from all these events, there will also be treasure hunts, guided tours and exhibitions of classical, Ferrari and modified cars. The events start at 7 p.m.