For your diary

• The annual ‘Christmas in Mellieha’ event is taking place in the parish square until Christmas Eve. Christmas food and beverages including mulled wine, turkey, Christmas pudding and Christmas cakes are for sale. Children’s attractions include a Disney magical Christmas parade, kiddies’ Christmas show, Bob the Builder singalong show and other shows on the main stage under the tent. There will be a Christmas Fun Park in Misraħ Żjara tal-Papa and Kitty’s Wonderland. There will also be lots of musical entertainment on offer.

• For the seventh year, the Queen Victoria Band Club of Żurrieq has organised a fundraising marathon to collect funds for St Therese’s Home in Nigret, Żurrieq. Live transmissions are being broadcast from the radio station Leħen il-Karmelitani 101.4FM from Republic Square, Żurrieq, today. Activities include billiards games, a Playstation marathon, and sale of poinsettias, plants, traditional Christmas food and sweets. This morning there will be a parade by the Żurrieq Scouts Pipes and Drums, face painting, and motor shows by the Malta Mini Owners Club, Malta Classic Ford Club and Retro Japanese Club Malta.

• The St Venera External Festivities Committee is holding a children’s Christmas party on Tuesday from 4 until 6 p.m. in the Scouts’ Hall, a few metres away from the old parish church. The price for tickets is €10 per child. Gifts will be given to every boy and girl and games will be played. Tickets can be bought from committee members and helpers. For more information, call 9926 1083.

• The International Movement of Prayer Blessed Pope John XXIII is holding its usual evening of prayer for peace and the new evangelisation of the world in the basement chapel of Sarria church, Floriana, on Wednesday from 5.15 to 6.15 p.m. Everyone is invited, especially devotees of Pope John XXIII. Devotees pray in 70 countries around the world, many of them at the same time.

• The next meeting of the San Ġorġ Preca Group is to be held on Friday at 6.30 p.m. at the MUSEUM headquarters at Blata l-Bajda (entrance next to Preca Library). Young couples and mature adults are particularly welcome. Visit www.sdcmuseum.org for more details.

• Caritas Co-Operators will be organising a day of activities to take place on January 11 at the Preluna Hotel, Sliema. The day will start with coffee at 10.30 a.m., followed by a talk on eating a healthy diet by Karmen Tedesco, Mass at noon, and lunch at 1 p.m. Cards and other games may be played. For more information and bookings, call Olga Muscat on 2133 0132, Josephine Farrugia on 2132 0016, Phyllis Ciappara on 2134 2910 or Evelyn Zammit on 2132 2466.

• Our Lady of Lilies Musical Society of Mqabba recently issued a commemorative calendar for 2012. Featuring a full-colour image of the statue of Our Lady of Lilies, venerated in Mqabba parish church, the calendar contains information regarding activities including the Feasts of Our Lady of Lilies in June and the Immaculate Conception in December. Those interested in receiving a free calendar by post can SMS their details to 7985 3044. For more information visit www.talgilju.com.