The Lija fireworks factory hopes to make Malta proud tonight with explosions of colour and sound that will grace the skies over Valletta during the island’s 11th international fireworks festival.

The Saint Michael’s Fireworks Factory is the only Maltese contestant in the pyro-musical display competition at the Grand Harbour, which kicked off yesterday and will come to an end tonight.

The other five participants hail from the UK, Canada, Poland, Croatia and Austria.

The winner will be chosen by a foreign jury.

Some 25 people have been preparing for the 10-minute fireworks display for the past few months. At 9 p.m. all that work will go up in flames from barges in the Grand Harbour.

It is the third time the Lija fireworks factory is taking part in the festival and it hopes to bring home a prize for Malta.

This year’s edition of the festival was launched last week and has been extended to a number of localities across the Maltese islands. It forms part of the eighth anniversary celebrations of Malta’s accession to the European Union.

The public can vote for the best pyro-musical display by SMS. A “Public Opinion” trophy will be presented on Tuesday, the closing night.

Seating, at €2.20, can be booked on 2291 5445 or at info@visitmalta.com.

A shuttle service will be available from the Floriana park-and-ride to Barriera Wharf.

www.maltafireworksfestival.com