For the third year running, L-Unjoni Philharmonic Society in Luqa will be creating a unique and stunning animated lighting display on its façade for the Christmas season. Lights on the façade will be synchronised to various songs to give the band club façade life during these festive times.

The idea was conceived by two young members of the Society, Andre Magri and Clayton Psaila. In November 2009, the two were encouraged to do the musical show for that year’s Christmas season. A team of six people was formed – Martin Camilleri, Andre Magri, Clayton Psaila, Luke Camilleri, Dylan Spiteri and Emanuel Magri – and the show The Façade in Yuletide was conceived. All six persons have different roles in the society, from musicians to electrical technicians. Combining their musical, IT and electrical skills, the show was developed within two weeks.

This year, the team will be building on last year’s design to make the whole project an even more overwhelming spectacle. The whole idea from drawing board to the actual building of the set and programming takes over three months to complete and this will see the façade lit up with over 13,000 Christmas lights, around 50 light bulbs, 125 metres of LED rope wire and over 1.5km of wire. The façade uses 40 independently controlled channels and it takes almost 10 hours to complete a four-minute song.

This year will see the inclusion of this synchronised light show in part of the street that houses the band club, and this will link both façade and street together, making the whole project even bigger.

This year there will also be additional events, including the L-Unjoni Philharmonic Society Concert Band performing live for the crowd, various stalls selling traditional Maltese sweets, cribs and figurine making demonstrations, attractions for kids, stalls selling poinsettias and a Scout Band and percussion band parade along the village street. The local Government Primary School will also participate by decorating the school’s front yard, in Main Street, with recycled material.

The event is scheduled to start at around 6:30pm with the climax – the official opening and lighting up of the façade – at around 9:00pm.