There will be fireworks, qubbajt and a marching band, but no statue at the festa celebrating Maltese identity to be held at San Anton Palace and its gardens to raise money for the Community Chest Fund.

Festa f’Sant Anton will help the philanthropic fund keep up with its monthly €200,000 commitment, €30,000 of which cover new cases of people in need of treatment like chemotherapy.

Scheduled for July 11 and 12 between 6pm and 11pm, the event will focus about “everything that is Maltese” and will take place at the palace, its surrounding gardens, including the President’s private garden and the Kitchen Garden.

There will be re-enactments at the Palace, exhibitions, a traditional games corner with noli, boċċi and passju, and traditional food including qubbajt and bigilla.

A drawing exhibition will be held at the President’s private garden together with short theatre productions. Children are being urged to submit drawings depicting the Maltese identity that will be exhibited throughout the event.

“Families are being invited to relax in a healthy environment surrounded with greenery. At the same time the presidency is committed to raise awareness about Malta’s heri-tage,” Ms Coleiro Preca said, adding the event would be a showcase of the island’s culture for foreigners residing in Malta. The participants, including a marching band made up of 12 young people, folk musicians, għannejja and singers will be participating for free. The admission fee of €5 will go towards the Community Chest Fund.

Those accompanied by their children will pay the reduced fee of €4.

For more information e-mail president@gov.mt or call 2122 6226.