A selection of 15 beers, more than 40 bands and live acts, international food stalls, plus ample entertainment promise to make this year's Farsons Great Beer Festival one of the best yet. The 10-day festival at Ta' Qali Park, which kicks off on Friday and runs until August 5, will provide free fun and entertainment for young and old, couples and families.
"This year we have put a heavy accent on quality, with more attention to detail," Ray Grech, Simonds Farsons Cisk's chief marketing officer, said.
This year's festival will also showcase the beers Farsons brews exclusively for foreign markets, as well as international brands and local favourites, organiser Matthew Cuomo said.
It is being supported by the Malta Tourism Authority, which believes summer would not be complete without the beer festival. The MTA's Kevin Drake said Malta's tourism product did not revolve solely round good hotels, roads, or museums, but high-calibre events gave tourists a good taste of life on the island.
About 80,000 people throng to the festival each year, and Maltese and tourists alike mingle around the open-air park choosing their own fun.
Commenting on the entertainment programme, marketing manager Ivan Filletti said the nightly live entertainment by local artistes was an essential element of the event.
Superb performances by Malta's leading singers and bands on two different stages guarantee to keep visitors returning to the festival.
The programme for the main area features mainstream artistes such as Claudette Pace, William Mangion, Lawrence Gray, Ludwig Galea, Klinsmann and Fabrizio Faniello.
Olivia Lewis, Malta's representative in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, will be on stage performing live with other artistes such as Mike Spiteri, J Anvil and Marvic Lewis.
Other performances by Zoo, a Musicals Night, and a 1980s party ensure a well-rounded line up that will definitely interest everyone.
For the first time, the festival will also be live on television programme Pjazza on TVM on the first night.
The second stage, the Rock Stage in the World Beers Area, will feature a host of alternative and rock bands and artistes, such as Fakawi, Ira Losco, Chasing Pandora, Beangrowers, Rug, Fire, Scream Daisy, Mindstate and Winter Moods.
After last year's well-received and much talked-about performance by The Rifffs, the band will be regrouping this year for the festival.
Other bands include The Characters and Tribali, fresh from their experience in Glastonbury last month.
The Rock Stage will also feature other young and upcoming bands and is an alternative night out for many young people.
This year, the Kids Fantasyland has been greatly improved and Curtain Raiser will be delivering an amazing range of performing arts, hands-on workshops, arts and crafts, storytelling and educational programmes.
The official festival mug makes a worthy addition to any beer drinker's collection. It can be purchased from the souvenir stall or from any of the bars filled with the beer of choice. Other souvenirs and special offers will also be available.
Due to embellishment works being carried out at the main entrance to the park, the public is advised to follow the signs to the secondary entrance, which is closer to the main car park and leads directly to the festival.
www.farsons.com/beerfestival