Music and magic by candlelight
Already in its fifth edition, the three-day Birgufest has become an eagerly anticipated event on the local cultural calendar. Organised by the Vittoriosa local council, the festival features numerous activities – as with previous years, some of the...
Already in its fifth edition, the three-day Birgufest has become an eagerly anticipated event on the local cultural calendar.
Organised by the Vittoriosa local council, the festival features numerous activities – as with previous years, some of the highlights will be the music, food and drink and the unique candle-lit atmosphere.
From the shade of the bastions in the morning, to the illuminations by candlelight along the winding streets of the historical city in the evening, the traditions of our forefathers will be re-enacted along with the imported cultures of groups from abroad invited for the occasion.
The cultural texture of the local inhabitants will also be strengthened through the cooperation with the twinning city of Casorate Sempione, performing during this year’s edition of BirguFest.
Visitors to tonight’s events will have the opportunity of benefiting from reduced rates to museums; a concert at the main square; and viewing folklore groups in different areas within the collachio. Tomorrow, the Wallace Pipes and Drums group will play around the streets in the morning; groups from Ravenna, Mertola and Idandha-a-Nova will play traditional and pop music in the evening; there will be a concert in the main square; traditional Maltese folk singing in the collachio area; a concert by the Joy Gospel Singers at St Lawrence Church, while the Enkor Group will sing at the Church of the Annunciation. During the evening representatives of the Guinness Book of Records will assess the number of lit candles for possible entry into the Book of Records. The number of candles will have to exceed 10,000.
The last day of BirguFest will feature the Military Tattoo in the morning and foreign bands will play in different parts of the city.
During the three days of the Festival, the Auberge of France will host an exhibition related to the Oralities Project, while other events will take place on the Vittoriosa waterfront.
• More information may be obtained online: www.birgufest.org or www.birgu.gov.mt.