Among the activities at tonight’s BirguFest, candle maker Stephen Cordina will present his new exhibition The Art of the Candle, showcasing elements of the process that go into making his unique hand-balm candles.

Today’s BirguFest activities kick off with a band parade by The Red Hackled Pipe Band at 10am to then continue in the early evening.

Three free guided tours focusing on different aspects of the city leave from the Couvre Port, starting with the first tour at 6pm focusing on Vittoriosa through the ages. The second tour at 7.15pm is about the city during the 1565 Great Siege and the final tour at 8.30pm looks at the city’s British heritage .

The highlight of the festival begins at 6.30pm when street lights are switched off and Vittoriosa is lit up by candlelight, with thousands of candles and fjakkoli used.

Award-winning local perfumer, artisan and candle maker Stephen Cordina will present his new exhibition The Art of the Candle at the Vittoriosa Local Council. Cordina chose to do things a little differently this year by showcasing elements of the process that go into making his unique hand-balm candles – candles that transform into a fragrant moisturising oil as they burn.

Several other activities will take place around the town, including live holy music from 8pm onwards at St Anne’s Chapel (Monastery of St Scholastica), the church of the Annunciation and the St Lawrence conventual and collegiate church.

Visitors can also take in two exhibitions at the Auberge de France and a fashion show at the Auberge d’Angleterre.

The entertainment line-up for the evening is varied. Malcolm & Band will play at 7.30pm at St James’ Tower followed by D-Banned at 9.30pm. The main square of Misraħ ir-Rebħa sees The Battle Through Dance, a revisitation of the 1565 Great Siege by Kinetic Dance Studio at 7.30pm, to be followed by The Crowns at 8.30pm and George Curmi ‘il-Pusé’ at 10pm.

From 8pm onwards, Bernie and Pod Acoustic Duo will play at Castille Poste, Charlie and the SpaceMan will feature in La Vallette Street and Melodies From Home, a project in collaboration with Valletta2018, will take place in the Collacchio from 8pm to 11pm.

Fosse Street is home tonight to the BirguFest 2016 Short Film Festival from 8pm to 11pm.

Places of interest, including several churches and convents, auberges dating back to the time of the Knights of St John in Malta and several museums will be open till late. It will also be possible to visit Norman House in North Street, one of the oldest houses in Vittoriosa which features unique Siculo-Norman features.

Traditional Maltese food and drinks stalls will be set up in the main square, in St John’s Tower Street and at Xatt ir-Rizq.

Tomorrow’s events are focused on free guided cultural tours starting from Couvre Porte. At 9am, the tour will unfold the Knights’ heritage in Vittoriosa. At 10.15am participants will take a look at the city through the ages. At 11.30am the tour will zoom in on the the 1565 Great Siege, while at 12.45pm it will be the turn of British heritage.

A band parade will take place in Vittoriosa’s streets from 10am to 11am led by the Marsa Scouts Pipes and Drums and the Wallace Pipes and Drums.

■ A park and ride service will be operating between 6pm and 12.30am tonight from Kordin near the Hibs football ground continuing on to Garden Road, Żabbar, to Triq il-Ġublew tal-Fidda, Vittoriosa, next to the bus terminus and back at €1 per person per trip. One can also catch a water taxi from next to the Old Customs House in Valletta (€2 per person) or from Senglea (€1 per person) to Vittoriosa. BirguFest is organised by the Vittoriosa Local Council together with the Malta Tourism Authority with the aim of promoting and generating interest in the historical heritage of Vittoriosa.