Coming up

• Today Għarb celebrates the feast of the Visitation with a solemn Mass led by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech at 9 a.m. The St Margaret Band will play marches at 11 a.m. Sung vespers will be led by Mgr Benedict Camilleri at 6.30 p.m. At 7.30 p.m., Mgr Grech will lead the procession, accompanied by the Visitation Band. The Leone Band will perform on the church parvis. Benediction will be given at 10 p.m. A thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated tomorrow at 7.30 p.m. followed by a barbecue in front of the parish centre.

• The Victoria Scout Group is organising an open-air dinner at Villa Rundle on Saturday at 7.30 p.m. Tickets are available from the Scouts' Headquarters on 2155 6497 or from the Group Scout Leader on 7939 8928 till Wednesday.

• On Wednesday at 5 p.m. the parish of St George, Victoria, will organise a pilgrimage to mark the 125th anniversary of the Virgin Mary's call to Karmni Grima. The activity will start from the road junction between Għarb road and Ta' Pinu. Mass will be celebrated on arrival at Ta' Pinu Sanctuary. The function will be broadcast on Radju Marija.

• An exhibition of 40 paintings by Carmel Teuma is being held at the Exhibition Hall, St Francis Square, Victoria, until July 27. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 12.45 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon.

• The Victoria International Arts Festival continues this evening (at 8 p.m., like most events) with a recital by a Norwegian duo, Linnea Sundfaer Haug (recorder) and Lars Henrik Johansen (harpsichord) at the Aula Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia. Entrance is free. The Italian Marino Marini, Ensemble will perform tomorrow, and the British clarinet quartet Ensemble 4 will perform on Tuesday. The Slovenian duo Alenka Zupan (flute) and Marko Feri (guitar) will give a recital on Wednesday. A trio from the Czech Republic will play on Saturday. On Sunday a recital will be given by the Italian duo Marcello Canci (violin) and Gabriele Campagna (piano). Concurrently, an exhibition of artworks in various media is on display at the parish centre. The festival also offers masterclasses in various instruments (e-mail: frgfrendo@yahoo.co.uk).

• Marco Lodesani, a renowned international expert on bee-keeping, will be delivering a talk on a fatal disease known as AFB. This will be held on Friday between 6 and 8 p.m. at the Ġużè Micallef Hall of the Government Farm in Xewkija.

• Outdoor festivities in honour of St George, organised by the La Stella Band Club, start on Friday with an open-air dinner at St George's Square, Victoria, from 8.30 p.m. The Astra Folk Group and a number of singers will perform. The festivities resume the following Monday evening with horse races along Republic Street. Twelve bands will be participating during the week-long celebrations.

cspiteri@timesofmalta.com