Adds updated programme:
The fireworks festival tomorrow and on Friday will be a celebration of Maltese culture and will mark the opening of summer and the Maltese festa season, Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco said today.
He was speaking at Rinella, where he was shown final preparations for the festival.
The organisers said the show would be bigger and better than in previous years. Fireworks would this year be fired from five barges in Grand Harbour, rather than four as in previous years. The barges would be kept separate from each other for greater safety.
Dr de Marco expressed solidarity with the victims of fireworks accidents but also underscored the importance of fireworks in Maltese tradition and culture and their attractiveness for tourism.
The programme will be the following:
THURSDAY 29th APRIL
21.00 hrs : Opening display by the Independent Fireworks Factory of Qrendi
21. 15 hrs : Grand pyro-musical display by Orzella Fireworks (Italy)
21.45 hrs : Maltese Fireworks Competition Three competitive firework displays by Maltese fireworks factories: • Lourdes Fireworks Factory – Naxxar • St Nicholas Fireworks Factory – Siggiewi • La Stella Fireworks Factory – Gudja
22.30 hrs Grand pyro-musical display by Mount Carmel Fireworks Factory (Zurrieq)
FRIDAY 30TH APRIL
21.00 hrs : Opening display by the Independent Fireworks Factory
21.15 hrs : Grand Pyro-musical Display by Santa Marija Fireworks Factory Mqabba
21.45 hrs : Maltese Fireworks Competition Three short competitive fireworks displays by Maltese fireworks factories: • St. Mary Fireworks Factory – Mgarr • St. Bartholomew Fireworks Factory – Gharghur • St. Mary Fireworks Factory - Ghaxaq
22.30 hrs : Grand Pyro-musical Display by Parente Fireworks (Italy)